Daytime E-region ion and nitric oxide densities

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Abstract
Rocket observations of ion number densities in the E-region show that the relative concentration of its major constituents, n(NO+)/n(O2+), varies drastically with solar activity and depends on the electron and the nitric oxide concentrations. A simple steady-state model is presented in which, by means of the electric quasi-neutrality condition, the continuity equations of both ions have been uncoupled and a one-to-one relationship between the electron and nitric oxide concentrations has been obtained. This model is applied to the calculation of the relative ion number densities and the nitric oxide concentration at middle latitudes, near noon under quiet geomagnetic and low solar activity conditions and a good agreement with the observation is found.

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