Large-scale irregularities in the ionosphere

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Journal of Geophysical Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ068i011p03399· OSTI ID:4697494

Titheridge, J. E.

The amplitude of the 20-Mc signal from the satellite Explorer 7 is recorded at Auckland from November 1960 to August 1961. Variations in the fading period are used to study the irregularities that occur in the electron density of the ionosphere. Relations are given for calculating the size and density of these irregulartties directly from plots of the fading period of the received signal. Results for 770 irregularities, observed at all times of day, with sizes from 5 to 500 km, are presented. The number with sizes between S and S + e (1000 to 2000 S is approximately proportional to e (1000 to 2000 S/S. The electron content of the irregularities, measured vertically is generally between 0.03 and 4% of the total electron content of the ionosphere, with a median vaiue of 0.25%. The density at the center of the irregularities differs from the density of the background ionization by about 1% for the smaller and 10% for the largest ones. The irregularities are not elongated in the direction of the magnetic field, but occur in the form of horizontal slabs with a vertical thickness equal to about one-fifth of the horizontal dimension. The fact that most irregularities larger than 50 km occur in series of three or more similar ones suggests that they are caused by a wave of disturbance propagated through the ionosphere with a wavelength of about 100 km. (auth)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Auckland, N.Z.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-025886
• OSTI ID: 4697494
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 68; ISSN 0148-0227
• Publisher: American Geophysical Union
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

BACKGROUND
DENSITY
DISTURBANCES
EARTH
ELECTRONS
FREQUENCY
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURED VALUES
MOTION
OSCILLATIONS
PHYSICS
PLATES
SATELLITES
SIGNALS
THICKNESS
VARIATIONS