Nighttime temperatures and ion chemistry from OGO 6 plasma measurements

Results are presented of a statical investigation of temperature and molecular ion chemistry in the nighttime thermosphere, with data from plasma measurements between 400 and 450 km from the retarding potential analyzer on the OGO 6 satellite. Temperatures and ion concentrations from the equatorial region are discussed. Emphasis is placed on statistical analyses of all data acquired within small cells of finite width in latitude and day of observation. Attention is given to a significant fraction of the nighttime hemisphere between low summer and middle winter latitudes.