Theoretical scaling laws for the spectrum of density irregularities in the high- and low-latitude ionosphere
Constraints on and scaling laws associated with the spectrum of density irregularities in the high and low latitude ionosphere are derived using conservation laws implied by the fundamental nonlinear plasma fluid equations describing low frequency, long wavelength ionospheric plasma dynamics and structure. For the high latitude case we discuss the spectrum implied by interchange-like plasma instabilities and apply our results to convecting ionospheric plasma enhancements, blobs, patches, and polar cap arcs. For the low latitude ionosphere, we derive scaling laws for the density spectrum associated with the Rayleigh-Taylor instability and make applications to equatorial spread-F. For both the high and low latitude cases, we distinguish the spectral behavior to be expected in both the lower and upper ionosphere.
- Research Organization:
- Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6389276
- Report Number(s):
- AD-P-006279/4/XAB
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: This article is from 'The Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Signals and Systems Performance Based on Ionospheric Effects Symposium Held on 1-3 May 1990', AD-A233 797, p133-141
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
PLASMA DENSITY
CHARGE DENSITY
CONSERVATION LAWS
CONVECTION
DISTURBANCES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RAYLEIGH-TAYLOR INSTABILITY
SCALING LAWS
SPREAD F
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY TRANSFER
F REGION
HEAT TRANSFER
INSTABILITY
MASS TRANSFER
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)