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Determination of the sources and sinks of N + ions in the thermosphere
Author(s) -
Torr D. G.,
Torr M. R.,
Hanson W. B.,
Hoffman J. H.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl006i007p00573
Subject(s) - thermosphere , photoionization , ionosphere , ionization , ion , charge exchange , physics , atmosphere (unit) , atomic physics , dissociative recombination , atmospheric chemistry , sink (geography) , atmospheric sciences , analytical chemistry (journal) , chemistry , meteorology , ozone , recombination , astronomy , environmental chemistry , biochemistry , cartography , quantum mechanics , gene , geography
Measurements of atmospheric parameters made by the Atmosphere Explorer‐C satellite are used to identify mechanisms for the production and loss of N + ions in the ionosphere. The main source below 250 km is found to be photo‐dissociative ionization of N 2 . Above 250 km the reactionO +( 4 S ) + N ( 2 D )→ k 1N +( 3 P ) + O ( 3 P )is dominant; k 1 is found to be 5 −2 +7 × 10 −11 cm³s −1 . A possible minor source of N + is the reactionO +( 2 P ) + N 2→ k 2N + N Owhere k 2 = 1 −.5 +1 × 10 −10 cm³s −1 . Photoionization of N( 4 S) and dissociative charge exchange of He + with N 2 constitute detectable sources above 350 km. Charge exchange of N + with O is identified as a significant sink above 300 km. The rate coefficient for this reaction is 5 −2 +7 × 10 −13 cm³s −1