| Millstone Hill ionospheric storm time
measurements of the electron density and temperature during the ionospheric
storms (15-16 June 1965; 29-30 September 1969 and 17-18 August 1970) are
compared with model results. The model of the Earth's ionosphere and
plasmasphere includes interhemispheric coupling, the H+, O+(4S),
O+(2D), O+(2P), NO+, O+2
and N+2 ions, electrons, photoelectrons, the electron and
ion temperature, vibrationally excited N2 and the components of
thermospheric wind.
In order to model the electron temperature at the time of the
16 June 1965 negative storm, the heating rate of the electron gas by
photoelectrons in the energy balance equation was multiplied by the factors 5-30
at he altitude above 700 km for the period 4.50-12.00 LT, 16 June 1965. The
[O]/[N2] MSIS-86 decrease and vibrationally excited N2
effects are enough to account for the electron density depressions at Millstone
Hill during the three storms. The factor of 2 (for 27-30 September 1969 magnetic
storm) and the & actor 2.7 (for 16-18 August 1970 magnetic storm) reduction
in the daytime peak density due to enhanced vibrationally excited N2
is brought about by the increase in the O++N2 rate factor. |