Measurements of electron cooling rates in the midlatitude and auroral-zone thermosphere

摘要: Two day-night pairs of thermosphere probe rockets, launched at Wallops Island, Virginia, in March 1965 and Churchill, Manitoba, November have provided altitude profiles electron temperature concentration midday midnight. Altitude N2 measured on the same four flights addition neutral gas profiles. These data are employed to calculate cooling rate profiles, these turn interpreted terms ionospheric heat sources. The daytime source for F region, both middle latitudes (L = 2.9) auroral zone ≈ 8), appears consistent with solar ultraviolet heating. nighttime F-region, however, be heated by downward conduction from protonosphere particle heating zone. E region day night locations cannot explained direct This may produced winds, electric currents, an unknown chemical reaction or, as Walker has suggested, selective electrons excited having lifetimes order a day.