Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer

Details Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer

May 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006agusmsa44a..04c&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2007, abstract #SA44A-04

Physics

2411 Electric Fields (2712), 2443 Midlatitude Ionosphere, 2471 Plasma Waves And Instabilities (2772)

Scientific paper

Using the Arecibo incoherent scatter radar, Behnke [1979] observed line of sight Doppler velocities in the F region exceeding 400 m/s, together with sharp 80 km rises in the F layer altitude. Although this observation was for some time attributed to the Perkins instability, the growth rate of the Perkins instability is discouragingly small. Tsunoda and Cosgrove [2001] suggested that a more likely source was a coupled effect involving a sporadic E (Es) layer and the F layer. They noted the apparent presence of positive feedback between a Hall-current-driven polarization process in Es layers, and a Pedersen-current-driven process in the F region. Cosgrove and Tsunoda [2002b, 2003] have since shown that Es layers are unstable with properties similar to those of the Perkins instability, motivating the idea that the two instabilities may couple. Cosgrove and Tsunoda [2004a, b] derived the linear growth rate for the coupled system of an Es layer and the F layer, thus realizing a unified formalism for the Perkins and Es layer instabilities. In the present paper we present a numerical simulation of the two-dimensional nonlinear evolution of the unstable coupled system. The results show that the time scale for the development of structure in the F region is significantly reduced when a Es layer is present. The Es layer evolution is highly nonlinear compared to the F layer evolution, and exhibits a wave breaking phenomenon that is associated with a strong electric field pulse. The result of the electric field pulse is a sharp modulation of the F layer altitude.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Spontaneous generation of 10-km-scale midlatitude electric fields by a sporadic E layer, and the effect on the F layer will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1026368