Estimation of Electron Heating Rates in the Topside Ionosphere during Medium Solar Activity

Abstract

Considering the heat balance in the topside ionosphere, the heat input rates Q₆ for electron gas are calculated from the election heat loss rates using electron density, electron temperature and ion composition measurements at different altitudes obtained by incoherent back-scatter radar during medium solar activity conditions. The relative importance of various collisional and conduction heat loss terms are examined in detail. The values of Q₆ estimated in this manner vary from 1·5 x 10⁴ eV cm^-2 sec^-1 at 300 km to 1·5 x 10² eV cm^-3 sec^-1 at 600 km.