The association of plane-wave electron-density irregularities with the equatorial electrojet
Journal Article
·
· Journal of Geophysical Research
It is demonstrated that the (plane-wave electron-density) irregularities (of the ionosphere) are spatially and temporally correlated with the equatorial electrojet. First, it is shown experimentally that the irregularities occur in the height and latitude region in which the electrojet flows; i.e., they are embedded in the electrojet. Second, it is shown that there are temporal correlations between the intensity of the radio waves scattered from the irregularities associated with the electrojet and the horizontal intensity of the earth's magnetic field, a measure of the electrojet current. The scattered intensity is imperceptible until a certain threshold of electrojet current is reached. As the electrojet current increases above the threshold, a scatter signal suddenly rises above the noise, increasing abruptly at first, then gradually. This threshold suggests that the plasma wave irreguiarities are generated by the current stream. According to the theory of Farley such a threshold can be interpreted as the onset of a plasma instability in the equatorial electrojet, leading to the formation of plasma waves. It is shown that by means of the intensity of the signal scattered from the electrojet irregularities, together with magnetometer measurements, it may be possible to estimate from ground observations the daytime field variation resulting from disturbance currents at great distances from the earth. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Jicamarca Radar Observatory, Lima
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-024110
- OSTI ID:
- 4710163
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Geophysical Research, Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 68; ISSN 0148-0227
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Simulational studies of the Farley-Buneman in the equatorial electrojet
Rocket studies of plasma turbulence in the equatorial and auroral electrojets
Long wavelength irregularities in the equatorial electrojet
Technical Report
·
Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1995
·
OSTI ID:86924
Rocket studies of plasma turbulence in the equatorial and auroral electrojets
Thesis/Dissertation
·
Tue Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1985
·
OSTI ID:6931479
Long wavelength irregularities in the equatorial electrojet
Journal Article
·
Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982
· Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)
·
OSTI ID:6707046