A numerical model of the ionosphere,including the E-region above EISCAT |
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| Authors: | P-Y Diloy A Robineau J Lilensten P-L Blelly J Fontanari |
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| Institution: | (1) C.E.S.R. CNRS/UPS, 9 avenue du Colonel Roche, 31029 Toulouse Cedex, France;(2) C.E.P.H.A.G., 38492 St Martin, d’Hères, France |
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| Abstract: | It has been previously demonstrated that a two-ion (O+ and H+) 8-moment time-dependent fluid model was able to reproduce correctly the ionospheric structure in the altitude range probed by the EISCAT-VHF radar. In the present study, the model is extended down to the E-region where molecular ion chemistry (NO+ and O+2, essentially) prevails over transport; EISCAT-UHF observations confirmed previous theoretical predictions that during events of intense E×B induced convection drifts, molecular ions (mainly NO+) predominate over O+ ions up to altitudes of 300 km. In addition to this extension of the model down to the E-region, the ionization and heating resulting from both solar insolation and particle precipitation is now taken into account in a consistent manner through a complete kinetic transport code. The effects of E×B induced convection drifts on the E- and F-region are presented: the balance between O+ and NO+ ions is drastically affected; the electric field acts to deplete the O+ ion concentration. The NO+]/O+] transition altitude varies from 190 km to 320 km as the perpendicular electric field increases from 0 to 100 mV m−1. An interesting additional by-product of the model is that it also predicts the presence of a noticeable fraction of N+ ions in the topside ionosphere in good agreement with Retarding Ion Mass Spectrometer measurements onboard Dynamic Explorer. |
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