Anisotropy of high-latitude nighttime F region irregularities

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 04:00:00 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), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 87: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
AURORAL OVAL
AURORAL ZONES
CONVECTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
F REGION
FLUCTUATIONS
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HARANG DISCONTINUITY
IONOSPHERE
LATITUDE EFFECT
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
VARIATIONS