A Self-Consistent Calculation of the Dissociation of Oxygen in the Upper Atmosphere

Abstract

In a previous paper a self-consistent model was set up for the dissociation of oxygen in the upper atmosphere under the assumption of number balance and radiative energy balance and a form of the barometric equation. In the present paper a similar model is used, but the requirement of radiative energy balance is dropped and a temperature distribution is assumed. The resulting calculations indicate that for this model the dissociation region is much narrower than in the previous model and that it occurs at lower altitudes.