Solar EUV energy budget of the thermosphere

Using the accumulation of experimental data and theoretical studies conducted on the terrestrial thermosphere since the mid seventies, we have re-evaluated the channels by which solar UV energy is transferred to the atmosphere. As an outcome of this evaluation we have redetermined the solar EUV heating efficiency for the thermosphere and find this to be considerably different from that established in earlier studies. The heating efficiency has strong altitude, solar cycle and diurnal dependencies. The values of this parameter vary from less than 10% to greater than 100%, with peak midday values of 50–55% In recent papers we have presented the results of this new UV heating efficiency determination using a steady state solution of the ionospheric model. In this paper we present the results obtained solving a time dependent model over a diurnal cycle. The time dependent effects are found to be significant, with certain longlived species acting as temporary reservoirs of latent heat that is released to the neutral atmosphere at later times.