The influence of radiative cooling and turbulence on the heat budget of the thermosphere

Numerical models of the thermal budget of the Earth's upper atmosphere in the height range of 90–500km are developed. The main sources and sinks of energy including infra-red radiative cooling by vibrational-rotational bands of NO, CO₂, OH and O₃ as well as heating and cooling arising from dissipation of turbulent energy and eddy heat transport are taken into account. The calculated temperature and density height profiles are in good agreement with the respective profiles from CIRA 72 and Jacchia 1977 models. It is shown for the models considered that IR-radiative cooling by CO₂ and NO in the 15μ and 5.3μ bands, not eddy turbulence provides the major loss of heat from 90 to 180km.