F-REGION IONIZATION AND HEATING DURING MAGNETIC STORMS

The continuity and heat conduction equations for electrons, ions and neutral species are solved simultaneously from the viewpoint of studying the F-region magnetic storm behavior. It is shown that many of the observed changes in the F-region during the main phase of a magnetic storm can be successfully explained by assuming a decrease in oxygen concentration at the turbopause level. The specific changes in neutral composition, electron density, and electron, ion, and neutral temperatures during magnetic storms are discussed for different solar conditions. © 1969.