Determination of loss coefficient and vertical transport velocity in the ionospheric F-region

Abstract

Estimates of the loss coefficient ß, the vertical transport velocity W, and their height gradients, are obtained for the night-time F-region for a period of high solar activity by using true height data for Delhi (dip: 42.5° N) and Huancayo, (dip: 2° N) with the help of a method recently introduced by the authors (Mitraet al., 1964). The loss coefficient ß is found to be approximately the same at both places, and has a height variation given by: β =(2.0± 0.5) × 10^-4 exp [300-h(km)/32± 2] sec ^-1in which the scale height of 32 km is close to that of O2 and N2 for the CIRA (1965) atmospheric model corresponding to the appropriate solar activity condition. The vertical transport velocity is found to be quite different for the two stations, being 7 m/sec at Delhi and 16 m/sec at Huancayo, both vertically downwards at night. The height gradient of the velocity is about 4 ×10^-5 sec^-1 at Delhi and 3 × 10^-5sec ^-1 at Huancayo.