Recombination of NO+ in the ionosphere

The rate coefficient for dissociative recombination of NO+ with electrons is determined as a function of electron temperature using a large sample (∼3000) of simultaneous measurements of ion and neutral concentrations and temperatures made by the Atmosphere Explorer‐C satellite at night. The derived recombination coefficient can be represented by the expressions for 1000 < Te < 2500°K and for 700 ≤ Te ≤ 1000°K where the uncertainty values apply to the temperature dependence of α. The uncertainty value in the coefficient should be used with the uncertainty value with the same sign in the exponent in going from the lower to the higher temperature regime. The uncertainty in the absolute value of α is about ±30%, i.e., the α vs. Te curve may be shifted by ±30%.