Publication Date:
2011-08-17
Description:
Data obtained by Bennett radio-frequency ion mass spectrometers indicate that the ionosphere envelope, dominated above 200 km by O(+), responds dramatically to variations in the solar wind pressure. The pressure compresses the thermal ion distributions from heights as great as 1800 km inward to 280 km. At the thermal ion boundary, or ionopause, the ambient ions are swept away by the solar wind, while at higher altitudes energetic ion currents are detected. Within the ionosphere, ion convection stimulated by the solar wind interaction causes pass-to-pass differences in the ion scale heights.
Keywords:
LUNAR AND PLANETARY EXPLORATION
Type:
Science; 203; Feb. 23
Format:
text