Long-Term Trends in the D- and E-Region Based on Rocket-Borne Measurements

Martin Friedrich*, Klaus Torkar, Christoph Pock

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Electron densities obtained from rocket borne measurements are compared to an empirical, steady state model built from these data. The ratios between each measured value and its corresponding model value vs. time yield trends which significantly vary with altitude. Notably above 120–130 km the electron densities generally increase, whereas between 95 and 120 km the ionosphere appears stable. Somewhere below 80–90 km - depending on the investigated data subset - there is again a positive trend down to below 70 km. Tentative explanations such as cooling of the mesosphere are suggested and may be confirmed by comprehensive theoretical models of the upper atmosphere.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)78-84
JournalJournal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics
Volume163
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Long-Term Trends in the D- and E-Region Based on Rocket-Borne Measurements'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this