Indian Journal of Radio & Space Physics

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Low latitude, topside ionosphere composition and its variation with changeable solar activity


Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, J C Bose University of Science & Technology, YMCA Faridabad, Haryana 121 006, India
2 Space Research Institute Austrian Academy of Sciences Schmiedlstrasse 6, 8042 Graz, Austria
3 Department of Physics, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
4 Department of Chemistry, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
5 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342 037, India
 

The ions composition and their densities have been studied for different solar activity periods - along with their diurnal, seasonal and annual variations - for half of the 23rd solar cycle, covering solar minima (1995) to solar maxima (2000) over Indian sector (65–95ᵒE and 5–35ᵒN) at an average altitude of ~500 km. The study has been done by processing the data obtained from in situ measurement made by separate Retarding Potential Analyser (RPA) for electrons and ions, aboard Indian satellite SROSS C2. The plasma density has been found to be rich in O+ ion for all instances of time and showed a direct increase with solar activity. H+ has been observed to be in plenty during night time, especially from moderate to high solar activity period. The difference between H+ and O+ densities widens with increasing value of F10.7. He+ always constitutes a small part of plasma but its density exceeds H+ - during moderate to high solar activity period. O2+ has beenfound to be a minor constituent, even 3-4 folds lesser than He+ density. A positive correlation with solar activity has been found for O2+.
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  • Low latitude, topside ionosphere composition and its variation with changeable solar activity

Abstract Views: 123  |  PDF Views: 77

Authors

Bindu Mangla
Department of Chemistry, J C Bose University of Science & Technology, YMCA Faridabad, Haryana 121 006, India
N K Dwivedi
Space Research Institute Austrian Academy of Sciences Schmiedlstrasse 6, 8042 Graz, Austria
D K Sharma
Department of Physics, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
Annana Bardhan Bardhan
Department of Physics, Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
Anupama Rajput
Department of Chemistry, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, Faridabad, Haryana 121001, India
S Singh
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342 037, India

Abstract


The ions composition and their densities have been studied for different solar activity periods - along with their diurnal, seasonal and annual variations - for half of the 23rd solar cycle, covering solar minima (1995) to solar maxima (2000) over Indian sector (65–95ᵒE and 5–35ᵒN) at an average altitude of ~500 km. The study has been done by processing the data obtained from in situ measurement made by separate Retarding Potential Analyser (RPA) for electrons and ions, aboard Indian satellite SROSS C2. The plasma density has been found to be rich in O+ ion for all instances of time and showed a direct increase with solar activity. H+ has been observed to be in plenty during night time, especially from moderate to high solar activity period. The difference between H+ and O+ densities widens with increasing value of F10.7. He+ always constitutes a small part of plasma but its density exceeds H+ - during moderate to high solar activity period. O2+ has beenfound to be a minor constituent, even 3-4 folds lesser than He+ density. A positive correlation with solar activity has been found for O2+.