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Engebretson et al. 1977
Engebretson, M.J., Mauersberger, K. and Potter, W.E. (1977). Extension of atomic nitrogen measurements into the lower thermosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 82: doi: 10.1029/JA082i022p03291. issn: 0148-0227.

Special operating modes of the open source neutral mass spectrometer (OSS) on the Atmosphere Explorer C permit the measurement of odd nitrogen (N + NO) number densities between 180 and 450 km. By using optical measurements of NO concentrations from the ultraviolet nitric oxide experiment on AE-C, number densities of N are obtained. Altitude profiles for the mid-latitude legs of three orbits in the late spring of 1974 are presented and compared with densities predicted by the AE-C (OSS) empirical N model at 375 km. Atomic nitrogen appeared to be in diffusive equilibrium at least above 200 km in each of the orbits studied. A typical number density of N at 200 km, 0900 LST, and 40¿N latitude in late May 1974 is 3¿107 cm-3.

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Journal of Geophysical Research
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