EFFECT OF OXYGEN COOLING ON IONOSPHERIC ELECTRON TEMPERATURES

There are discrepancies between ionospheric electron temperatures derived from Thomson scatter data and electron temperatures predicted from the solar ultra-violet heat source. The inclusion of electron cooling by excitation of the fine-structure levels of atomic oxygen removes the discrepancy throughout the day at all altitudes above 320km. Below this altitude a discrepancy persists, but it probably lies within the uncertainties arising from the basic atomic and molecular data employed in the theoretical analysis and from the solar-flux data. © 1968.