Temperature distribution in the transition region and inner corona

The energy balance equation for a general solar atmosphere without assuming the plane-parallel approximation is solved analytically. This leads to models for both the transition region and inner corona as well as for the outer corona. Model I is electron-pressure dependent but model II depends particularly on the maximum coronal temperature Tsub(m) and its corresponding altitude hsub(m). Both the models are compared with temperature models of Chiuderi and Riani (1974), McWhirter et al. (1975), and Gabriel (1976). It is concluded that model II reproduces these models within factor of not more than 2. (Auth.)