On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region
The decay of underdense meteor trails in the polar mesopause region is thought to be predominantly due to ambipolar diffusion, a process governed by the ambient temperature and pressure. Hence, observations of meteor decay times have been used to indirectly measure the temperature of the mesopause r...
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2008
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c91c524db29947d3bbd988049ba1a439 2023-05-15T17:44:33+02:00 On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region A. P. Ballinger P. B. Chilson R. D. Palmer N. J. Mitchell 2008-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 https://doaj.org/article/c91c524db29947d3bbd988049ba1a439 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.ann-geophys.net/26/3439/2008/angeo-26-3439-2008.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/0992-7689 https://doaj.org/toc/1432-0576 doi:10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 0992-7689 1432-0576 https://doaj.org/article/c91c524db29947d3bbd988049ba1a439 Annales Geophysicae, Vol 26, Pp 3439-3443 (2008) Science Q Physics QC1-999 Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 article 2008 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 2022-12-31T00:09:23Z The decay of underdense meteor trails in the polar mesopause region is thought to be predominantly due to ambipolar diffusion, a process governed by the ambient temperature and pressure. Hence, observations of meteor decay times have been used to indirectly measure the temperature of the mesopause region. Using meteor observations from a SKiYMET radar in northern Sweden during 2005, this study found that weaker meteor trails have shorter decay times (on average) than relatively stronger trails. This suggests that processes other than ambipolar diffusion can play a significant role in trail diffusion. One particular mechanism, namely electron-ion recombination, is explored. This process is dependent on the initial electron density within the meteor trail, and can lead to a disproportionate reduction in decay time, depending on the strength of the meteor. Article in Journal/Newspaper Northern Sweden Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Annales Geophysicae 26 11 3439 3443 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Science Q Physics QC1-999 Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 |
spellingShingle |
Science Q Physics QC1-999 Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 A. P. Ballinger P. B. Chilson R. D. Palmer N. J. Mitchell On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
topic_facet |
Science Q Physics QC1-999 Geophysics. Cosmic physics QC801-809 |
description |
The decay of underdense meteor trails in the polar mesopause region is thought to be predominantly due to ambipolar diffusion, a process governed by the ambient temperature and pressure. Hence, observations of meteor decay times have been used to indirectly measure the temperature of the mesopause region. Using meteor observations from a SKiYMET radar in northern Sweden during 2005, this study found that weaker meteor trails have shorter decay times (on average) than relatively stronger trails. This suggests that processes other than ambipolar diffusion can play a significant role in trail diffusion. One particular mechanism, namely electron-ion recombination, is explored. This process is dependent on the initial electron density within the meteor trail, and can lead to a disproportionate reduction in decay time, depending on the strength of the meteor. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
A. P. Ballinger P. B. Chilson R. D. Palmer N. J. Mitchell |
author_facet |
A. P. Ballinger P. B. Chilson R. D. Palmer N. J. Mitchell |
author_sort |
A. P. Ballinger |
title |
On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
title_short |
On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
title_full |
On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
title_fullStr |
On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
title_sort |
on the validity of the ambipolar diffusion assumption in the polar mesopause region |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 https://doaj.org/article/c91c524db29947d3bbd988049ba1a439 |
genre |
Northern Sweden |
genre_facet |
Northern Sweden |
op_source |
Annales Geophysicae, Vol 26, Pp 3439-3443 (2008) |
op_relation |
https://www.ann-geophys.net/26/3439/2008/angeo-26-3439-2008.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/0992-7689 https://doaj.org/toc/1432-0576 doi:10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 0992-7689 1432-0576 https://doaj.org/article/c91c524db29947d3bbd988049ba1a439 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/angeo-26-3439-2008 |
container_title |
Annales Geophysicae |
container_volume |
26 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
3439 |
op_container_end_page |
3443 |
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1766146793811214336 |