Diurnal Variation of Electron and Ion Temperatures with Altitude
Lalitha T. Alexander

Abstract
The observations on the ionospheric electron and ion temperatures measured by the RPA payload aboard the SROSS C2 satellite have been used to study the variation of electron and ion temperatures with altitude. The SCROSS C2 Satellite Retarding Potential Analyzer measurements during 1995 – 2000 are used to make a direct comparison of electron and ion temperatures at the low latitude upper ionosphere with altitude. The orbit of SROSS C2 satellite covers an altitude range 420 – 620 km. It also covered a latitude range 5.0⁰ S to 30.0⁰ N. The temperatures Te and Ti are found to have similar diurnal, latitude and altitude variations. The features like morning overshoot, day time valley and evening enhancement show larger values at higher altitudes.

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