Long wavelength irregularities in the equatorial electrojet

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1982 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL009i006p00684· OSTI ID:6707046

Kudeki, E; Farley, D T; Fejer, B G

We have used the radar interferometer technique at Jicamarca to study in detail irregularities with wavelengths of a few kilometers generated in the unstable equatorial electrojet plasma during strong type 1 conditions. In-situ rocket observations of the same instability process are discussed in a companion paper. These large scale primary waves travel essentially horizontally and have large amplitudes. The vertical electron drift velocities driven by the horizontal wave electric fields reach or exceed the ion-acoustic velocity even though the horizontal phase velocity of the wave is considerably smaller. A straightforward extension to the long wavelength regime of the usual linear theory of the electrojet instability explains this and several other observed features of these dominant primary waves.

• Research Organization: School of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
• OSTI ID: 6707046
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 9:6; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
CURRENTS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
IONOSPHERE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHASE VELOCITY
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
PLASMA WAVES
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
VELOCITY