Escape of fast oxygen from the atmosphere during geomagnetic storms

摘要: Observations have been reported of energetic O+ fluxes (0.7–12 keV with energy up to 0.4 erg cm−2 s−1 sr−1) during several magnetic storms. We examine the atmospheric effects be expected from precipitation these fluxes. The fast ions produce O atoms through charge exchange and momentum transfer (yielding atomic oxygen emissions that may as bright 200 R). lose their largely collisions ambient atoms. This process produces a large shower low-energy nonthermal results in heating atmosphere above km. A substantial number sufficient escape atmosphere. If this type event occurs frequently enough, mechanism could result significant loss over lifetime earth.