On formulating a simple D-region model
By: William Swider
Series: Environmental research papers -- no. 987; AFGL-TR -- 87-0308; Environmental research papers (Hanscom AFB, Mass.) -- no. 987
Publisher: Air Force Geophysics Laboratory, Ionospheric Physics Division
Published: 1987
Place of publication: Hanscom AFB, Mass
Language: eng
Number of pages: 14
Subjects: D region; Lower ionosphere
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.
Notes: Title from cover.

"28 October 1987."

"Ionospheric Physics Division project 4643."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 13-14).