Plasma bubbles and irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere
Using the Atmosphere Explorer satellite AE-C, we observe large-scale (10- to >200-km) irregular biteouts of up to three orders of magnitude in the ion concentration N/sub 1/ in the nighttime equatorial F region associated with small-scale inhomogeneities in N/sub 1/. Similar phenomena were reported by Hanson and Sanatani but without the more complete plasma diagnostics present on AE. Simultaneous plasma velocity observations show irregular upward and westward motion of the order of 150 m s/sup 1/ associated with some of these 'bubbles' while others move more with approximately the velocity of the background plasma. The plasma composition signatures indicate that most of the bubbles observed have recently moved upward. Several features of recent VIII radar observations can be understood as resulting from these plasma bubbles, e.g., the 'plume' features and very high apparent velocities seen on range-time-intensity spread F maps and the very complex and/or wide spectral features observed using such radars. Bubbles that move upward typically also move westward with respect to the background plasma. This may explain the east-west asymmetries seen in studies of equatorial irregularities made using HF radar, HF transequatorial propagation, and detailed 6300-A tropical airglow mapping techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Center for Space Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas 75080
- OSTI ID:
- 7304636
- Journal Information:
- J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 82:19; ISSN JGREA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
CHARGED PARTICLES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EXPLORER SATELLITES
F REGION
INHOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
IONOSPHERE
IONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA DRIFT
SATELLITES