Global exospheric temperatures and densities under active solar conditions

Temperatures measured by the OGO-6 satellite using the 6300 Å airglow spectrum are compared with temperatures derived from total densities and N₂ densities. It is shown that while the variation of the total densities with latitude and magnetic activity agree well with values used for CIRA (1972), the temperature behavior is very different. While the temperatures derived from the N₂ density were in much better agreement there were several important differences which radically affect the pressure gradients. The variation of temperature with magnetic activity showed seasonal and local time variations. Neutral temperature, density, pressure and boundary oxygen variations for the storm of 8 March 1970 are presented.