Premium
On the Topside Ionosphere Over the American Continents
Author(s) -
Chan K. L.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1002/rds19661101158
Subject(s) - ionosphere , middle latitudes , latitude , f region , geology , electron density , polar , geophysics , sporadic e propagation , scale height , physics , international reference ionosphere , atmospheric sciences , geodesy , electron , total electron content , tec , meteorology , astronomy , quantum mechanics
Preliminary results of an extensive investigation of the topside ionosphere over the North and South American continents are presented. The required data are obtained through the reduction and analysis of a large number of Alouette I topside ionograms. Illustrative examples of typical latitudinal variations (from 80° N to 80° S geographic latitudes or 90° N to 60° S dip latitudes) of electron density (N) and corresponding scale height (H u ) are presented. The characteristic features of equatorial, midlatitude and polar ionospheres are described. Assuming the topside ionosphere is in a state of diffusive equilibrium above 500 km, the scale height of electron distribution along magnetic field lines (H s ) is calculated. The physical significance and interpretation of the computed scale height, (H s ), curves are discussed.