Time variation in small-ion density at 32 kilometers altitude

Abstract

In a previous paper [Paltridge, 1965] an experiment to measure the atmospheric smallion density and electrical conductivity from a constant-level balloon was described. To investigate a considerable time variation indicated by the results, we repeated the experiment on February 8, again using the normal Hiball sampling equipment. On this occasion the aspiration velocity through the Gerdien condenser was held constant during the entire 4-hour period in which the balloon was floating at 32 km, so that ion density was monitored continuously. Included in the apparatus was a single Geiger counter, whose output was telemetered, together with the blower speed and the measured ion density.