Hydrogen in the upper atmosphere

Abstract

Theoretical altitude distributions are examined, taking into account D and E region density distributions, relations between escape and exospheric density distributions, and aspects of thermospheric distributions and changes with exospheric temperature. Theoretical diurnal variations are considered along with ion-neutral interactions, radiative transfer theory, optical observations, nonoptical observations, aspects regarding the altitude profile of deuterium, the ionization of the night time D and E regions, and the effect of hydrogen loss on oxygen evolution. Questions concerning the presence of H and D around other planets are also investigated, giving particular attention to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter.