Abstract
THE heat requirement of the equatorial and temperate zone ionosphere is normally about 2 × 1010 cal. sec.−1 (cf. Johnson1). This is because of the loss of heat downwards due to a temperature gradient of about 10° K. km.−1 between 100 and 200 km. altitude. It is the purpose of this communication to suggest that joule heating by ionospheric electric currents can supply heat in this quantity. Current of density (j) causes joule heating at the rate Q given by j2/σ3, where σ3 is the Cowling conductivity.
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References
Johnson, F. S., J. Geophys. Res., 65, 2227 (1960).
Chapman, S., and Bartels, J., Geomagnetism, 1 (Clarendon Press, 1951).
Fukushima, N., and Oguti, T., Rep. Ionosph. Res. Japan, 7, 137, Fig. 1 (1953).
Cole, K. D., Proc. Intern. Symp. Cosmic Rays and Earth Storm, Kyoto (in the press).
Cole, K. D., Austral. J. Phys., 15, No. 2 (in the press).
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COLE, K. A Source of Energy for the Ionosphere. Nature 194, 75 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/194075a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/194075a0
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