Temperature Determinations of H II Regions

The effect that temperature fluctuations inside H ii regions have on the value of the temperature determined from observations is studied. New photoelectric observations of M8, M17, and three regions of the Orion Nebula are discussed; the intensity ratios of auroral to nebular forbidden lines of 0+, O++, and N+ were measured in all five regions, whereas the intensity ratio of Balmer continuum to Balmer line was obtained for the last three. The temperatures obtained by means of the forbidden lines are found to be larger than those determined from the Balmer continuum and the published radio astronomical values. It is found that at least part of this difference can be accounted for by temperature fluctuations inside H ii regions.