Properties of Dust as an Electron and Ion Attachment Site for Use in D Region Ion Chemistry.

Abstract : Numerous observations of D region electron and ion density profiles have been difficult to interpret with chemical models based upon our present knowledge of a simple gas-phase chemistry. Often the presence of submicrometer sized particulates has been tentatively suggested as a cause of these enigmatic properties of the D region. The numerous observations of noctilucent clouds and mesospheric scattering layers are evidence for particulate matter in the D region, although the origin, composition, and size distribution of such particulates can only be estimated within rather broad ranges. This report establishes some basic properties of single particulates such as the electron-particulate and ion-particulate attachment rates, recombination rates, and photodetachment rates.