On the production of nitric oxide by cosmic rays in the mesosphere and stratosphere

dc.contributor.author	Nicolet, M.
dc.date	1975
dc.date.accessioned	2017-08-31T12:18:32Z
dc.date.available	2017-08-31T12:18:32Z
dc.identifier.uri	https://orfeo.belnet.be/handle/internal/6065
dc.description	Nitric oxide is formed in the atmosphere through the ionization and dissociation of molecular nitrogen by galactic cosmic rays. One NO molecule is formed for each ion pair produced by cosmic ray ionization. The height-integrated input (day and night) to the lower stratosphere is of the order of 6 × 107 NO molecules cm-2/sec in the auroral zone (geomagnetic latitude Φ ≥ 60°) during the minimum of the sunspot cycle and 4 × 107 NO molecules cm-2/sec in the subauroral belt and auroral region (Φ≥ 45°) at the maximum of solar activity. The tropical production is less than 10-7 NO molecules cm-2/sec above 17 km and at the equator the production is only 3 × 106NO molecules cm-2/sec.
dc.language	eng
dc.title	On the production of nitric oxide by cosmic rays in the mesosphere and stratosphere
dc.type	Article
dc.subject.frascati	Earth and related Environmental sciences
dc.audience	Scientific
dc.source.title	Planetary and Space Science
dc.source.volume	23
dc.source.issue	4
dc.source.page	637-649
Orfeo.peerreviewed	Yes
dc.identifier.doi	10.1016/0032-0633(75)90104-X
dc.identifier.scopus	2-s2.0-0001538194