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Behavior Of The Ionosphere And Thermosphere Subject To Extreme Solar Cycle Conditions, C. G. Smithtro, Jan Josef Sojka

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A 1-D global average ionosphere and thermosphere (GAIT) model is used to examine the climatological behavior of the upper atmosphere, subject to both extremely low and high solar flux. These extremes are justified, in part, by the Maunder Minimum and Grand Maximum epochs described by J. A. Eddy, as well as other studies involving cosmogenic isotopes and Sun-like stars. As the irradiance falls below normal solar minimum levels, the concentration of O⁺ decreases rapidly relative to the molecular ions, such that the ratio ƒ_oF₂/ƒ_oF₁ approaches unity. When subject to exceptionally high solar …