The Constitution and Composition of the Upper Atmosphere

A general survey is made of various observations and theoretical possibilities which concern the problems involved in the study of the constitution and composition of the upper atmosphere. The basic problem of the composition of the homosphere and heterosphere is studied after considering the nature of dissociation processes and vertical transport by diffusion. Finally, the effect of thermal conduction on the temperature distribution is shown to be of importance over the entire thermosphere above the E layer.