The Effect of Mixing Upon Atomic and Molecular Oxygen in the 70–170 km Region of the Atmosphere

Abstract

The coupled non-steady-state equations of motion and continuity, including a time varying solar flux, are solved for [0] and [O₂] in the altitude region between 70 and 170 km and for argon over the altitude range 0 to 170 km. Measured atmospheric temperature, diffusion coefficients (molecular and eddy), and the total density as determined from chemical trail releases (85–170 km) are used as the atmospheric transport coefficients in the equations of motion. The calculations show the effect of mixing in the form of a variable vertical eddy diffusion coefficient upon the previously calculated large time constants of [0] in this critical altitude region. This now permits the establishment of diurnal reproducibility on all constituents where steady-state solutions are not possible, i,e., [O] and [0₂].