Estimation of peak electron density in upper ionosphere of Mars at high latitude (50 degrees-70 degrees N) using MGS ACC data

摘要

Under photochemical equilibrium condition, electron density near peak varies as the square root of total peak ionization rate. Thus by averaging the longitudinal variation of latter, the mean primary and secondary peak electron densities in upper ionosphere of Mars using measured mass densities at LST 16 hrs are estimated to be similar to 8.56 x 10(4) cm(-3) and similar to 1.81 x 10(4) cm(-3). On comparison with mean electron densities at LST 3-4 hrs for observational period Dec. 24-31, 1998, at same solar zenith angle, it is found that the estimated primary peak electron density at LST 16 hrs is more by a factor of similar to 1.06. With this analogy, the estimated secondary peak electron density should be similar to 3.76 x 10(4) cm(-3) instead of similar to 1.81 x 10(4) cm(-3). Thus, in order to obtain the estimated secondary peak electron density of similar to 3.76 x 10(4) cm(-3), soft X-ray flux should be increased by a factor of similar to 4.31.