A model of the midlatitude nighttime E region including metallic ions

Abstract

The midlatitude nighttime E region was modeled with three ion species including a metallic ion species, Mg+. Time‐dependent ionization profiles, including diffusion, were calculated for five wind profiles measured over Wallops Island, Virginia, on 22 February 1968. Model‐generated profiles are compared with electron density measurements from the same night.

Nitric Oxide Ion Density Profiles in Earth's Nightside High‐Latitude E and F Region Ionosphere

“…A Maxwellian distribution, an isotropic distribution in energy and pitch angles are used to simulate electron precipitation (Hardy et al., 1985). We also implemented horizontal neutral wind measurements from Wallops Island in February 22, 1968 (Harris & McGhan, 1977).…”

“…The data on which this article is based are available in Vialatte et al. (2017), Harris and McGhan (1977). IRI2016 and MSIS90 ion density, neutral density and temperature are used as initial conditions to implement the numerical program at t = 0 and to calculate loss rates due to chemical reactions.…”