Dominant configurations of scintillation-producing irregularities in the auroral zone

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA086iA12p10087· OSTI ID:5881189

Fremouw, E J; Lansinger, J M

Recent scintillation observations have disclosed the existence of sheetlike electron density irregularities aligned along L shells in the auroral zone ionosphere. In this paper we explicit the aspect sensitivity of phase scintillation to identify the dominant three-dimensional configuration of irregularities in four latitude/time zones; (1) equatorward of the high-latitude scintillation boundary on the nightside of the earth. (2) poleward of the nightside boundary, (3) equatorward of the boundary on the day side, and (4) poleward of the dayside boundary. We find the sheetlike irregularities to be confined to region 2, with few exceptions. The dominant configuration in the other zone 4, is that of axially symmetric rodlike irregularities aligned along the magnetic field.

• Research Organization: Physical Dynamics, Inc., Bellevue, Washington 98005
• OSTI ID: 5881189
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 86:A12; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
DAILY VARIATIONS
DISTURBANCES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
IONOSPHERE
IONOSPHERIC STORMS
LATITUDE EFFECT
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
SCINTILLATIONS
VARIATIONS