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Atmospheric and Space Sciences: Ionospheres and Plasma Environments pp 67–102Cite as

Planetary Ionospheres

Magnetic Fields, Chemical Processes, and Ionospheric Structure

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Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences ((BRIEFSEARTH))

Abstract

An ionosphere is a consequence of photoionization and is the partially ionized portion of a planetary atmosphere. It contains free electrons and ions, whose dynamics produces complex current systems, depending on ambient electric fields, and collisional properties, and gyration around magnetic fields. In terms of the vertical extent, the ionosphere coincides with the thermosphere, where the neutral species are diffusively separated, owing to strong molecular diffusivity and insufficient turbulent mixing. In a similar fashion, the vertical profiles of plasma species are greatly influenced by diffusive equilibrium. Ionospheric dynamics is modified by the geomagnetic field, which has a strong dipole component. Chemical processes have to be considered in detail in additional to dynamics in the ionosphere. Therefore, in the chemical continuity equation, chemical production and loss processes cannot be neglected. A Chapman layer is a first order approximation of production of ionization by the absorption of solar energy, which is a good description for the lower ionosphere (\(E, F_1\) regions), but higher up in the \(F_2 \) region transport becomes important. Qualitatively, Earth’s and Mars ionospheres demonstrate overall various similarities, besides major differences. Interaction with other species, and external (solar effects) and internal (lower atmospheric) processes play an important role in both ionospheres.

I am only a physicist with nothing material to show for my labours. I have never even seen the ionosphere, although I have worked on the subject for thirty years. That does show how lucky people can be. If there had been no ionosphere I would not have been standing here this morning.

Sir Edward Appleton (1956)

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Caused by humans.

  2. 2.

    Unit adopted for international use under the Système International d’Unités. This sytem is used for all scientific purposes.

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  1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Erdal Yiğit

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Yiğit, E. (2018). Planetary Ionospheres. In: Atmospheric and Space Sciences: Ionospheres and Plasma Environments. SpringerBriefs in Earth Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62006-0_4

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