Anisotropy of high-latitude nighttime F region irregularities

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA087iA12p10519· OSTI ID:6248644

Livingston, R C; Rino, C L; Owen, J; Tsunoda, R T

The anisotropy of intermediate-scale, F region irregularities in the nighttime auroral zone is described. The study is based upon spaced-receiver phase scintillation measurements made with the Wideband satellite at Poker Flat, Alaska. A systematic dependence of irregularity anisotropy with local time and magnetic latitude is observed, suggesting convective control. Sheetlike irregularities are confined to the zone of east-west drift near the equatorward boundary of the auroral zone, and at the flow reversal, or Harang discontinuity, the cross-field extension of the sheets is reduced. The extension of rodlike irregularities, which are observed poleward of the zonal convection boundary, also shows apparent convection dominance. Mechanisms for convection control of the anisotropy are discussed.

• Research Organization: Radio Physics Laboratory, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025
• OSTI ID: 6248644
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Vol. 87:A12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
F REGION
ELECTRON DENSITY
AURORAL ZONES
CONVECTION
FLUCTUATIONS
HARANG DISCONTINUITY
LATITUDE EFFECT
AURORAL OVAL
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
IONOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
VARIATIONS
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena