Solution of the coupled ionospheric continuity equations and the equations of motion for the ions, electrons and neutral particles

Abstract

The time-dependent continuity equations for four different ion species and the equations of motion for the ions, electrons and neutral particles are discussed and a method of solving them numerically is described. The calculations include the effects of neutral air winds, electric fields, viscosity, Coriolis force, geomagnetic declination, a time-dependent incoming flux and different electron, ion and neutral particle temperatures. The various assumptions which have to be made in order to solve the equations and some limitations of the present work, are also discussed.