Integrated production and effective loss rates in the ionosphere

The total electron content data obtained at Ahmedabad through the Faraday fading records of the radio beacons abroad the satellites Explorer 22 and 27 are used to determine the overhead integrated production rate (Q ⁰) and integrated loss coefficient (β′) for the epoch 1965–1968. The production rate (Q ₀) is shown to have two peaks during a year around the equinoctal months and for a particular monthQ ₀ increases linearly with the 10·7 cm solar flux. The loss coefficient β′, too, has two equinoctial peaks within a year. The semiannual variations ofQ ₀ and β′ are discussed in relation to similar variation in the O]/N₂] ratio.