Electric field diagnostics of the dynamics of equatorial density depletions

Details Electric field diagnostics of the dynamics of equatorial density depletions Electric field diagnostics of the dynamics of equatorial density depletions

Sep 1997

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1997jastp..59.1625l&link_type=abstract

Journal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics, v. 59, p. 1625-1631.

Physics

8

Scientific paper

During its life of 10 months, the San Marco D satellite crossed a large number of plasma density depletion channels in the nightside F-region equatorial ionosphere. In-situ measurements of vector electric fields from San Marco D reveal convection velocity variations inside such channels and thus can be used as diagnostics of the dynamics of these plasma depleted regions. Furthermore, in some cases, the temporal evolution of the channel can be inferred from the measurements. In this paper the electric field data are converted to plasma drift velocities in order to illustrate cases where the plasma flow is directed upward or downward in the channel, the channel itself is oriented vertically upward or tilted eastward/westward, or the channel is experiencing a bifurcation or pinching-off process. Although the E × B plasma drift velocities within the depleted channels are commonly a few hundred m s-1, on some occasions electric fields corresponding to speeds as large as 2-3 km s-1 have been observed. The implications for such highly supersonic convection are discussed, including the possible constriction of such high-speed depletion channels at higher altitudes.

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