THERMAL BALANCE OF THE MID-LATITUDE F2-REGION AT NIGHT

The thermal balance of the plasma in the night-time mid-latitude F2-region is examined using solutions of the steady-state O+ and electron heat balance equations. The required concentrations and field-aligned velocities are obtained from a simultaneous solution of the time-dependent O+ continuity and momentum equations. The results demonstrate the systematic trend for the O+ temperature to be 10-20 K greater than the electron temperature during the night at around 300 km, as observed at St. Santin by Bauer and Mazaudier. It is shown that frictional heating between the O+ and neutral gases is the cause of the O+ temperature being greater than the electron temperature; the greater the importance of frictional heating in the thermal balance the greater is the difference in the O+ and electron temperatures. A study is made of the roles played in the thermal balance of the plasma by the thermal conductivity of the O+ and electron gases; collisional heat transfer between O+ electrons and neutrals; frictional heating between the O+ and neutral gases; and advection and convection due to field-aligned O+ and electron motions. The results of the study show that, at around 300 km, electron cooling by excitation of the fine structure of the ground state of atomic oxygen plays a major role in the thermal balance of the electrons and, since the temperature of the ions is little affected by this electron cooling process, in determining the difference between the ion and electron temperatures. © 1979.