Energetics and structure of the lower e region associated with sporadic e layer

The electron temperature (T_e), electron density (N_e), and two components of the electric field were measured from the height of 90 km to 150 km by one of the sounding rockets launched during the SEEK-2 campaign. The rocket went through sporadic E layer (E_s) at the height of 102 kmĝ€"109 km during ascent and 99 kmĝ€"108 km during decent, respectively. The energy density of thermal electrons calculated from N_e and T_e shows the broad maximum in the height range of 100ĝ€"110 km, and it decreases towards the lower and higher altitudes, which implies that a heat source exists in the height region of 100 kmĝ€"110 km. A 3-D picture of E_s, that was drawn by using T_e, N_e, and the electric field data, corresponded to the computer simulation; the main structure of E_s is projected to a higher altitude along the magnetic line of force, thus producing irregular structures of T_e, N_e and electric field in higher altitude.