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The effect of horizontal transport on auroral no densities
Author(s) -
Roble R. G.,
Gary J. M.
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/gl006i009p00703
Subject(s) - thermosphere , plume , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , geology , geophysics , ionosphere , physics , meteorology
A time‐dependent two‐dimensional numerical model of the minor neutral constituents in the thermosphere is used to examine the effects of winds in altering the local distribution of NO produced in the aurora. The calculations show that thermospheric winds flowing through regions of enhanced local auroral production produce a “plume” of enhanced NO densities downwind from the aurora. The maximum NO densities calculated with and without horizontal winds differ by a factor of 2.6 for the case consideredindicating the importance of horizontal transport in controlling NO densities within the auroral zone.