EFFECTS OF SOLAR XUV VARIATIONS ON THE THERMOSPHERE AND THE VARIABILITY OF THE PHOTOIONIZATION EFFICIENCY PARAMETER DURING THE SOLAR CYCLE-21

Making use of the latest available semi-empirical atmospheric models, solar XUV radiations rates of photoionization and absorbed energy profiles have been graphically presented showing the latitudinal, seasonal and solar cycle variations. The photoionization limits of the major neutral constituents of the terrestrial atmosphere O2, O, and N2 that occur at wavelengths 102.7, 91.2, and 79.6 nm, respectively have been quantified by showing the photoionization rates of O2+, O+, and N2+ for different spectral groups both under quiet and different solar flare conditions. The variability of the photoionization efficiency parameter which is height-dependent, from winter to summer, for solar minimum to solar maximum for four significantly different latitudes under local noon conditions have been investigated during the solar cycle 21. More energy is required to produce an electron-ion pair in a denser atmosphere than in a thinner atmosphere and hence more energy is being deposited in the height range between 100-120 km which itself manifests in raising the electron gas temperatures higher than the neutral gas temperatures.