A method for obtaining instantaneous values of recombination coefficient

Author / Creator

Mitra, Ashesh P., author

Available as

Online

Summary

Currently available methods for the experimental determination of the effective recombination coefficient from the diurnal variations of ionospheric ionization, height or absorption, give reliable ...

Currently available methods for the experimental determination of the effective recombination coefficient from the diurnal variations of ionospheric ionization, height or absorption, give reliable values only where the coefficient has no diurnal variation. Where such a variation exists, the coefficients determined by these methods are spuriously altered, sometimes to zero or even negative values, and the diurnal variation is substantially exaggerated. A method is introduced for obtaining the instantaneous values (as against 'comparison' values given by current methods) at layer maxima, applicable principally for the E and the F1 regions. It is shown that an application of this method to the E region critical frequency data of a number of medium and low latitudes stations gives remarkable small diurnal variations of the coefficient at E region heights in contrast with the large diurnal variation obtained by the 'comparison' methods. Another surprising feature of the results is that the diurnal variations for both high and low latitudes are in the same sense, and there is no definite evidence of a phase reversal - again contradicting results obtained by comparison methods. (Author).

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