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Detailed Reference Information
Mauersberger et al. 1976
Mauersberger, K., Kayser, D.C., Potter, W.E. and Nier, A.O. (1976). Seasonal variation of neutral thermospheric constituents in the northern hemisphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 81: doi: 10.1029/JA081i001p00007. issn: 0148-0227.

The Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite carries a large number of experiments including an open source neutral mass spectrometer. Among the measurements obtained with this instrument were ones of particle densities of N2, O, and He at northern latitudes in early February and late June 1974. The orbital geometry of the satellite was such that comparisons could be made for the winter/summer season at the same altitudes and latitudes and at similar local solar times. The helium density shows in midmorning a winter/summer enhancement of a factor of 29 at 400 km. The enhancement at other altitudes, both higher and lower, is less. At 250 km the winter/summer oxygen ratio is 1.7, whereas the winter/summer nitrogen ratio is 0.6. Both ratios decrease with increasing altitudes. The analysis identifies an oxygen enhancement at low altitudes in winter and at high altitudes in summer.

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Journal of Geophysical Research
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