On formulating a simple D-region model

Description

This report focuses on a body of work that suggests that the effective recombination coefficients in the daytime D-Region are fairly invariant and thus lead to a rather simple solution for the electron concentrations. In addition, a quadratic expression is available for the estimation of electron concentrations at night. The ionization production rate q must be known and incorporated into the chemistry of the D region to determine electron concentrations (e) as a function of altitude. There is some D region research which supports a simple way to determine (e) once q is known. Thus, the daytime effective recombination coefficient, Psi, appears to be relatively insensitive to q and can provide for the determination of (e), (e) = sq rt(q/Psi) under steady-state conditions. For steady-state conditions at night, an equation exists which yields (e) with reasonable accuracy. Keywords: D Region; Ionosphere; Mesosphere.

Subjects

Series Statement

• Environmental research papers -- no. 987

Other Editions

• On formulating a simple D-region modelAir Force Geophysics Laboratory, Ionospheric Physics Division1987-01-01
• On formulating a simple D-region modelAir Force Geophysics Laboratory, Ionospheric Physics Division1987