The outflow of ionospheric nitrogen ions: A possible tracer for the altitude‐dependent transport and energization processes of ionospheric plasma

Though limited, the existing observational data set indicates that N + is a significant ion in the ionosphere, and its concentration varies with season, time of day, solar cycle, latitude, and geomagnetic conditions. Knowledge of the differential transport of heavy versus light ionospheric species can provide the connection between the macroscale dynamics and microscale processes that govern the near‐Earth space. The mass distribution of accelerated ionospheric ions reflects the source region of the low‐altitude ion composition, and the minor ion component can serve as a tracer of ionospheric processes since they can have a significant influence on the local plasma dynamics.