Polar cap F layer patches: structure and dynamics

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6773004

Weber, E J; Klobuchar, J A; Buchau, J; Carlson, H C; Livingston, R C

Coordinated measurements of F-region plasma patches were conducted on February 3/4, 1984, from Thule and Sondrestrom, Greenland. Optical, ionsonde, amplitude scintillation, total electron content (TEC), and incoherent scatter radar measurements were combined to reveal several new aspects of the structure and transport of these localized regions of enhanced F region ionization. For the first time, these patches were directly tracked flowing in the antisunward direction over distances of 3000 km from the center of the polar cap to the poleward edge of the auroral oval. Quantative measurements of TEC show increases of 10-15 TEC units within the patches, above a background polar cap value of 5 TEC units. Amplitude scintillation measurements show the presence of ionospheric irregularities through the entire patch, with a weak indication of stronger scintillation on the trailing (or E x B unstable) edge.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6773004
• Report Number(s): AD-A-174696/5/XAB; AFGL-TR-86-0247
• 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
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
F REGION
GREENLAND
INCOHERENT SCATTERING
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
POLAR REGIONS
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SCATTERING
SCINTILLATIONS