A CONTRIBUTION TO IRI FOR THE D-REGION

It is widely accepted that the most reliable data on electron densities in the lower D-region are all based on rocket borne radio wave propagation measurements. In the following a summary of key parameters such as electron density, the ratio between negative ions and electrons, the abundance of cluster ions and the effective electron loss rate are given, all established from plasma data based on radio wave experiments. The rationale behind the models used were all published in full previously, hence only the key results are presented, but some of the models are augmented by new input data.