A model of the chromosphere from radio and optical data

Abstract

During the past few years various chromospheric models based on optical and ratio data have appeared in the literature. They exhibit an overwhelming tendency to recognize the chromosphere as a heterogeneous medium departing markedly from spherical symmetry. Beyond this general trend, however, their similarity all but vanishes. Perhaps the reason for this dissimilarity lies in the complexity of nonspherically symmetric models. The simpler ones, based on the assumption of spherical symmetry, however, show an equal diversity. It seems, therefore, that the diversity must be attributed to a lack of basic understanding of chromospheric phenomena.