Photoionization balance and thermal imbalance in the equatorial and low latitude E region

Abstract

A model for studying the E region electron temperature using a newly developed profile matching technique is described. The computed profile of electron density (<i>N</i>_e) is matched with that of an experimental profile of <i>N</i>_e. The matching of the two profiles is achieved by increasing electron temperature (<i>T</i>_e) suitably above neutral gas temperature (<i>T</i>_g) for a series of fixed heights. The <i>T</i>_e profile is thus constructed. The computed <i>T</i>_e for three equatorial and low altitude stations, namely, Thumba, Peru and Arecibo, show that <i>T</i>_e><i>T</i>_g in the height range 100-130 km with a peak near 120 km.