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Atomic nitrogen densities near the polar cuspThe neutral atmospheric composition spectrometer on board the Dynamics Explorer 2 spacecraft sampled several major and minor thermospheric gases including atomic nitrogen. A selection of passes over the polar cusp that provide a quantitative measure of N densities in this region and provide evidence of localized density increases due to soft particle precipitation is presented. Increases in N densities are frequently observed but are smaller than accompanying increases in N2 densities. The observations support earlier studies suggesting that (1) N densities increase more rapidly than O densities during periods of high solar EUV flux and (2) N densities are larger in the summer hemisphere than in the winter hemisphere. A series of passes in February 1983, late in the lifetime of DE 2, indicated N densities at 200 km altitude were a factor of 2 larger near the southern cusp than near the northern cusp.
Document ID
19850067069
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Engebretson, M. J.
(Augsburg Coll. Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Nelson, J. T.
(Augsburg College Minneapolis, MN, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1985
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 90
ISSN: 0148-0227
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
85A49220
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-349
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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