The influence of convection electric fields on thermal proton outflow from the ionosphere

Abstract

The continuity, momentum and energy hydrodynamic equations for an O +-H + ionosphere have been solved self-consistently for steady state conditions when a perpendicular (convection) electric field is present. Comparison of the H + temperature profiles obtained with and without the electric field show that the effect of the electric field is to enhance the H + temperature at high altitudes from about 3600 to 6400 K. Due to ion heating by the electric field, there is a net reduction of O + in the F2-region as compared with the case of a non-convecting ionosphere. When the reduction of O + is neglected, the electric field acts to increase the H + outward flux from 8.3 × 10 7 to 2.7 × 10 8 cm −2 sec −1 for average ionospheric conditions. However, when the reduction of O + is included, there is a net reduction in the outward H + flux. Nevertheless, the convection electric field still results in an increase in the rate of depletion of the F-re m −1 electric field.