A short review on the F1-region ion composition in the auroral and polar ionosphere

• Published in: Advances in Space Research
• Main Authors: Lathuillere, Chantal, Kofman, Wlodek
• Other Authors: Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble (LPG), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2006
• Subjects: F1-region; Ion composition; Auroral ionosphere; Incoherent scatter observations; EISCAT
• Online Access: https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00357242; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2005.12.014

International audience Most F1 region ion composition measurements are obtained by the incoherent scatter technique. During magnetically quiet periods, we review all empirical models that have been obtained from EISCAT measurements. These models show comparable behaviour, which general trend is quite well described by the International Reference Ionosphere model. Specific attention is also given to the ion composition behaviour during magnetically active periods. The measurement problems are recalled. Measurements and simulations show that the molecular ions can dominate the F ionospheric layer when electric field are larger than 50 mV/m.