Abstract
The measurement of the electron temperature profile has been successively carried out at the Kagoshima Space Center by using identical radio frequency rectification probes onboard rockets launched during about half a solar activity cycle. By using about 30 profiles, an experimental model of the electron temperature profile and its solar activity dependency are proposed. Some particular characteristic points, bottom, 170km, 220km and topside, are examined in relation to local time and solar activity.
The high electron temperature layer which appears at around 11 o'clock local time in winter is pointed out.
The differences between the observed electron temperature and the model atmospheric neutral temperature at the characteristic points in particular are examined in relation to solar activity. The relation obtained at topside can be roughly explained by the variation of energy loss of electrons with solar activity.
