Browsing by Author "Sterling, D. L."
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Item Restricted Source and identification of heavy ions in the equatorial F layer(American Geophysical Union, 1972-10-01) Hanson, W. B.; Sterling, D. L.; Woodman Pollitt, Ronald FranciscoFurther evidence is presented to show that the interpretation of some Ogo 6 retarding potential analyzer (RPA) results in terms of ambient Fe+ ions is correct. The Fe+ ions are observed only within dip latitudes of ±30°, and the reason for this latitudinal specificity is discussed in terms of a low‐altitude source region and F region diffusion and electrodynamic drift. It is shown that the polarization field associated with the equatorial electrojet will raise ions to 160 km out of a chemical source region below 100 km but it will do so only in a narrow region centered on the dip equator. Subsequent vertical E × B drift, coupled with motions along the magnetic fields, can move the ions to greater heights and greater latitudes. There should be a resultant fountain of metallic ions rising near the equator that subsequently descends back to the E and D layers at tropical latitudes. Even if the metallic ions do have access to the lower F region at higher latitudes, the downward plasma flow at the F peak will restrict their access to the upper F region.Item Restricted Synthesis of data obtained at Jicamarca, Peru, during the September 11, 1969, eclipse(American Geophysical Union, 1972-02) Sterling, D. L.; Hanson, W. B.; Woodman Pollitt, Ronald FranciscoContinuous measurements of electron temperatures, electron concentrations, and vertical plasma drift were made at Jicamarca during the September 11, 1969, solar eclipse. Control measurements were made on September 13, 1969. Synthesis of the observed electron concentrations was made, using a model that solved the time‐dependent electron‐ion continuity equations. Ions O+, NO+, O2+, and N2+ were treated. Physical and chemical processes pertinent to the F region were considered in a realistic way. At noon, 300 km above Jicamarca, we obtained the values q = 290−3 sec−1 for the O+ production rate, β = 1.94 × 10−4 sec−1 for the loss coefficient, and H = 59 km for the atomic oxygen scale height. All large‐scale features observed in the F2 region were synthesized by the model. This synthesis was not sensitive to a simultaneous 30% reduction of q and β.Item Restricted Synthesis of Jicamarca Data During the Great Storm of March 8, 1970(American Geophysical Union, 1972-07) Woodman Pollitt, Ronald Francisco; Sterling, D. L.; Hanson, W. B.Continuous measurements of electron temperature and electron concentration were made at Jicamarca from 0700 to 0830 LT and from 1130 to 2000 LT during the great magnetic storm of March 8, 1970, when the F2 peak rose as high as 800 km. Continuous measurements of the vertical component of E×B drift were made from 1130 to 1730 LT. A synthesis of the observed electron concentrations was made using a model that solved the time‐dependent electron‐ion continuity equation for O+ and the molecular ions; the latter chemistry was included to improve the solutions at lower heights. It was found, using the observed values of vertical drift, that most of the observed features of the F2‐region ionosphere were synthesized by the model. An interpretation of the synthesis that emphasizes the importance of horizontal diffusion at the equator is given. Observations are presented for March 7, 8, and 9, 1970, including the Huancayo magnetograms, which display a close correlation with the drift measurements.