Bibliography

On the impact of meridional wind circulation changes in the electron density distribution over the Indian equatorial and low latitude ionospheric region during a severe geomagnetic storm

Using a suite of instruments, which included a chain of ground-based dual-frequency GPS receivers, and magnetometers, we have studied the importance of thermospheric meridional wind circulation in controlling the distribution of plasma over the Indian low latitude ionospheric regions during the period of a severe geomagnetic storm. The storm on 15 May 2005, which had its onset coinciding with the local noon time sector for the Indian ionospheric zone, was a severe geomagnetic storm with symH ∼ - 305 nT. A steep increase in the Total Electron Content (TEC) of the ionosphere over the entire Indian ionospheric region was observed on May 15. The enhancement in the TEC was well correlated with the increase in ΔH at the dip-equator due to the prompt penetration of the convection electric field associated with the storm. However, contrary to the previous studies on the storm impact over low latitude regions, a clear signature of disturbance dynamo was absent on the day after the storm. Enhancements in the TEC were observed on May 16, a day after the storm, as well, though the ΔH at the dip-equator was quite below the quite-time mean. The TEC remained well above its monthly mean over the entire Indian ionospheric region during the storm recovery period. We suggest that the TEC enhancement on May 16, even though it looked like due to a prompt penetration effect, was directly related to the compositional disturbances as given by the O/N2 ratio. We conclude that the meridional wind circulation plays an important role in the distribution of electron density over the equatorial and low latitudinal region during the period of a geomagnetic storm.

Ambili, K.; Choudhary, R.;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: oct

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2022.06.027

Compositional disturbances; Equatorial ionosphere; geomagnetic storm; total electron content

Quantification of the role of gravity wave induced TIDs in modulating ESF day to day variability during geomagnetically disturbed periods

The control of magnetic disturbance induced seed perturbations on the daily variation in night-time ionization irregularity occurrence is studied using ionosonde data and TIMED/GUVI neutral density data at the magnetic equatorial region, Trivandrum. The study reveals that there is a requisite threshold seed amplitude for ESF to occur at a particular altitude and this requisite seed increases as the altitude decreases. This dependence of requisite seed perturbation on altitude for multiple years, which incorporates the electrodynamical effects also, is used as the basis for developing an empirical model to hind-cast ESF. Using the model, the threshold seed perturbation for any day of vernal equinox (ve) season of any year can be delineated if the solar flux index (F10.7) is known. The empirical model is also validated using the data for high and low solar activity periods. The model is able to hind-cast ESF with 92\% success for low solar activity while the success rate for high solar activity is 50\%. Further, the dependence of the threshold curves on neutral density is brought out, thereby confirming the role of ion-neutral coupling processes in modulating the same for magnetically disturbed periods. The geomagnetically disturbed period requisite seed amplitudes are higher than those for quiet periods at a given altitude. This study underlines the importance of disturbance induced seed perturbations and neutral density in controlling ESF occurrence.

Sruthi, T.; Manju, G.;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: mar

YEAR: 2022     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2021.11.038

Equatorial ionosphere; Equatorial Spread F; Geomagnetically disturbed period; neutral density

A Synoptic-Scale Wavelike Structure in the Nighttime Equatorial Ionization Anomaly

Both ground- and satellite-based airglow imaging have significantly contributed to understanding the low-latitude ionosphere, especially the morphology and dynamics of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA). The NASA Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission focuses on far-ultraviolet airglow images from a geostationary orbit at 47.5°W. This region is of particular interest at low magnetic latitudes because of the high magnetic declination (i.e., about -20°) and proximity of the South Atlantic magnetic anomaly. In this study, we characterize an exciting feature of the nighttime EIA using GOLD observations from October 5, 2018 to June 30, 2020. It consists of a wavelike structure of a few thousand kilometers seen as poleward and equatorward displacements of the EIA-crests. Initial analyses show that the synoptic-scale structure is symmetric about the dip equator and appears nearly stationary with time over the night. In quasi-dipole coordinates, maxima poleward displacements of the EIA-crests are seen at about ± 12° latitude and around 20 and 60° longitude (i.e., in geographic longitude at the dip equator, about 53°W and 14°W). The wavelike structure presents typical zonal wavelengths of about 6.7 × 103 km and 3.3 × 103 km. The structure s occurrence and wavelength are highly variable on a day-to-day basis with no apparent dependence on geomagnetic activity. In addition, a cluster or quasi-periodic wave train of equatorial plasma depletions (EPDs) is often detected within the synoptic-scale structure. We further outline the difference in observing these EPDs from FUV images and in situ measurements during a GOLD and Swarm mission conjunction.

Rodríguez-Zuluaga, J.; Stolle, C.; Yamazaki, Y.; Xiong, C.; England, S.;

Published by: Earth and Space Science      Published on:

YEAR: 2021     DOI: 10.1029/2020EA001529

equatorial plasma bubbles; Equatorial ionization anomaly; Equatorial ionosphere; forcing from below; wave structure

Modeling the Impact of Metallic Ion Layers on Equatorial Spread With SAMI3/ESF

The impact of region metal ion layers on the development of equatorial plasma bubbles is investigated using the SAMI3/ESF model. We find that metal ion layers reduce the growth rate of the generalized Rayleigh-Taylor instability (GRTI) and act to suppress the development of equatorial plasma bubbles. This is consistent with theoretical expectations and observations and is attributed to the increase in both the Pedersen and Hall conductances. Additionally, inhomogeneities in the region metal ion layer can map into the layer and alter the morphology of equatorial spread (ESF) bubble evolution. Lastly, we find that if EFS bubbles develop in the presence of a metal ion layer, then the electric fields generated by the instability can lift the metal ions into the region. This is consistent with observations of Fe in the region during equatorial spread .

Huba, J.; Krall, J.; Drob, D.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 02/2020

YEAR: 2020     DOI: 10.1029/2020GL087224

Equatorial ionosphere; Equatorial Spread F; metal ions; sporadic E

Global-scale Observations of the Equatorial Ionization Anomaly

Abstract The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk ultraviolet spectrograph has been imaging the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), regions of the ionosphere with enhanced electron density north and south of the magnetic equator, since October 2018. The initial 3 months of observations was during solar minimum conditions, and they included observations in December solstice of unanticipated variability and depleted regions. Depletions are seen on most nights, in contrast to expectations from previous space-based observations. The variety of scales and morphologies also pose challenges to understanding of the EIA. Abrupt changes in the EIA location, which could be related to in situ measurements of large-scale depletion regions, are observed on some nights. Such synoptic-scale disruptions have not been previously identified.

Eastes, R.; Solomon, S.; Daniell, R.; Anderson, D.; Burns, A.; England, S.; Martinis, C.; McClintock, W.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on:

YEAR: 2019     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL084199

Equatorial ionosphere; ionospheric irregularities; ionospheric dynamics; Ionospheric storms; forecasting; airglow and aurora

The Morphology of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles - a review

Plasma bubbles that occur in the equatorial F-region make up one of the most distinguishing phenomena in the ionosphere. Bubbles represent plasma depletions with respect to the background ionosphere, and are the major source of electron density irregularities in the equatorial F-region. Such bubbles are seen as plasma depletion holes (in situ satellite observations), vertical plumes (radar observations), and emission-depletion bands elongated in the north-south direction (optical observations). However, no technique can observe the whole three-dimensional structure of a bubble. Various aspects of bubbles identified using different techniques indicate that a bubble has a "shell" structure. This paper reviews the development of the concepts of "bubble" and "shell" in this context.

Kil, Hyosub;

Published by: Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences      Published on: 03/2013

YEAR: 2015     DOI: 10.5140/JASS.2015.32.1.13

Equatorial ionosphere; irregularities; plasma bubble

Geomagnetic control of equatorial plasma bubble activity modeled by the TIEGCM with Kp

Describing the day-to-day variability of Equatorial Plasma Bubble (EPB) occurrence remains a significant challenge. In this study we use the Thermosphere-Ionosphere Electrodynamics General Circulation Model (TIEGCM), driven by solar (F_10.7) and geomagnetic (Kp) activity indices, to study daily variations of the linear Rayleigh-Taylor (R-T) instability growth rate in relation to the measured scintillation strength at five longitudinally distributed stations. For locations characterized by generally favorable conditions for EPB growth (i.e., within the scintillation season for that location), we find that the TIEGCM is capable of identifying days when EPB development, determined from the calculated R-T growth rate, is suppressed as a result of geomagnetic activity. Both observed and modeled upward plasma drifts indicate that the prereversal enhancement scales linearly with Kp from several hours prior, from which it is concluded that even small Kpchanges cause significant variations in daily EPB growth.

Carter, B.; Retterer, J.; Yizengaw, E.; Groves, K.; Caton, R.; McNamara, L.; Bridgwood, C.; Francis, M.; Terkildsen, M.; Norman, R.; Zhang, K.;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 08/2014

YEAR: 2014     DOI: 10.1002/2014GL060953

Equatorial ionosphere; plasma bubbles; TIEGCM

The Ionospheric Bubble Index deduced from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm

In the post-sunset tropical ionospheric F-region plasma density often exhibits depletions, which are usually called equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). In this paper we give an overview of the Swarm Level 2 Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI), which is a standard scientific data of the Swarm mission. This product called L2-IBI is generated from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm, and gives information as to whether a Swarm magnetic field observation is affected by EPBs. We validate the performance of the L2-IBI product by using magnetic field and plasma measurements from the CHAMP satellite, which provided observations similar to those of the Swarm. The L2-IBI product is of interest not only for ionospheric studies, but also for geomagnetic field modeling; modelers can de-select magnetic data which are affected by EPBs or other unphysical artifacts.

Park, J.; Noja, M.; Stolle, C.; Lühr, H.;

Published by: Earth, Planets and Space      Published on: 11/2014

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.5047/eps.2013.08.005

Equatorial ionosphere; Plasma irregularity; topside ionosphere

GPS TEC near the crest of the EIA at 95\textdegreeE during the ascending half of solar cycle 24 and comparison with IRI simulations

Total electron content (TEC) data obtained from GPS dual frequency measurements during the ascending half of the solar cycle 24 from 2009 to 2012 over Dibrugarh (27.5\textdegreeN, 94.9\textdegreeE; 17.6\textdegreeN MLAT) have been used to study the diurnal, seasonal, annual and solar cycle variation of TEC. The measurements reported here are for the first time from the location situated at the poleward edge of the northern equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and within the peak region of the longitudinal wave number 4 (WN4) structure in EIA crest TEC. TEC exhibits a minimum around 0600\ LT and diurnal maximum around 1300\textendash1600\ LT. In the low and moderate solar activity years 2009\textendash2010 and 2010\textendash2011, average daytime (1000\textendash1600\ LT) TEC in summer was higher (25.4 and 36.6 TECU) compared to that in winter (21.5 and 26.1 TECU). However, at the peak of the solar cycle in 2011\textendash2012, reversal in the level of ionization between winter and summer takes place and winter TEC becomes higher (50.6 TECU) than that in summer (45.0 TECU). Further, TEC in spring (34.1, 49.9 and 63.3 TECU respectively in 2009\textendash10, 2010\textendash11 and 2011\textendash12) is higher than that in autumn (24.2, 32.3 and 51.9 TECU respectively) thus showing equinoctial asymmetry in all the years of observation. The winter anomaly in high solar activity years and equinoctial asymmetry all throughout may be largely attributed to changes in the thermospheric O/N₂ density ratio. A winter to summer delay of \~1\ h in the time of occurrence of the diurnal maximum has also been observed. Daytime maximum TEC bears a nonlinear relationship with F_10.7 cm solar flux. TEC increases linearly with F_10.7 cm solar flux initially up to about 140\ sfu (1\ sfu\ =\ 10^-22\ W\ m^-2\ Hz^-1) after which it tends to saturate. On the contrary, TEC increases linearly with solar EUV flux (photons cm^-2\ s^-1, 0.5\textendash50\ nm) during the same period. TEC predicted by the IRI 2012 are lower than the measured TEC for nearly 90\% of the time.

Bhuyan, Pradip; Hazarika, Rumajyoti;

Published by: Advances in Space Research      Published on: 10/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2013.06.029

Equatorial ionosphere; GPS; Ionosphere; IRI; TEC

Ion-neutral coupling during deep solar minimum

The equatorial ionosphere under conditions of deep solar minimum exhibits structuring due to tidal forces. Data from instruments carried by the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) which was launched in April 2008 have been analyzed for the first 2 years following launch. The Planar Langmuir Probe (PLP), Ion Velocity Meter (IVM) and Vector Electric Field Investigation (VEFI) all detect periodic structures during the 2008\textendash2010 period which appear to be tides. However when the tidal features detected by these instruments are compared, there are distinctive and significant differences between the observations. Tides in neutral densities measured by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite were also observed during June 2008. In addition, Broad Plasma Decreases (BPDs) appear as a deep absolute minimum in the plasma and neutral density tidal pattern. These are co-located with regions of large downward-directed ion meridional velocities and minima in the zonal drifts, all on the nightside. The region in which BPDs occur coincides with a peak in occurrence rate of dawn depletions in plasma density observed on the Defense Meterological Satellite Program (DMSP) spacecraft, as well as a minimum in radiance detected by UV imagers on the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) and IMAGE satellites.

Huang, Cheryl; Roddy, Patrick; Sutton, Eric; Stoneback, Russell; Pfaff, Robert; Gentile, Louise; Delay, Susan;

Published by: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics      Published on: 10/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2012.11.009

Equatorial ionosphere; Nonmigrating tides; Plasma depletions; thermosphere

Are plasma bubbles a prerequisite for the formation of broad plasma depletions in the equatorial F region?

Formation of broad plasma depletions (BPDs) at night in the equatorial F region is understood in association with plasma bubbles. However, we report BPDs that do not show a connection with bubbles. The characteristics of BPDs are investigated using the observations of the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite on 31 December 2008, 28 July 2010, and 1 February 2011. On those days, BPDs are detected in the longitude regions where C/NOFS did not detect bubbles prior to the detection of BPDs. The coincident C/NOFS and radar observations over Jicamarca in Peru show the occurrence of BPDs at the time when backscatter echoes are absent and at the height below backscatter echoes. These observations indicate that bubbles are not a prerequisite for those BPDs. The detections of those BPDs can be explained by the uplift of the equatorial F region peak height above the satellite orbit.

Kil, Hyosub; Lee, Woo;

Published by: Geophysical Research Letters      Published on: 07/2014

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/grl.50693

bubbles; Equatorial ionosphere; irregularities

Signatures of equatorial plasma bubbles in VHF satellite scintillations and equatorial ionograms

Since their discovery in the 1970s, equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) have been invoked to explain the propagation of VHF signals on trans-equatorial circuits at night, and blamed for highly detrimental scintillation of VHF and GHz trans-ionospheric communications signals in equatorial regions. Over the last four decades, the properties of EPBs have been deduced by multiple techniques such as incoherent scatter radar, 630 nm airglow, depletions in GPS total electron content observations, VHF and GHz scintillations, and HF observations by ionosondes. The initiation and evolution of EPBs have by now been successfully modeled and a good understanding developed of the underlying physics. However, different communities tend to concentrate on a single observing technique, without regard to whether the different techniques provide a consistent physical picture. In contrast, this paper discusses two very different types of observations made on a night-by-night basis during the COPEX campaign of late 2002 in Brazil, namely, VHF scintillations and ionograms, and shows that the two methods of observation can provide a consistent interpretation of the properties of EPBs. For example, an EPB seen as an eastward drifting scintillation event can also be seen as an extra ionogram reflection trace that moves closer to and then away from the ionosonde site. The scintillations are attributed to strong gradients across the walls of an EPB, whereas the extra ionogram traces are attributed to oblique reflection of the ionosonde signals from the walls of the EPB.

McNamara, L.; Caton, R.; Parris, R.; Pedersen, T.; Thompson, D.; Wiens, K.; Groves, K.;

Published by: Radio Science      Published on: 03/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/rds.v48.210.1002/rds.20025

Equatorial ionosphere; equatorial plasma bubbles

Impacts of atmospheric ultrafast Kelvin waves on radio scintillations in the equatorial ionosphere

We present a statistical analysis of the amplitudes of GPS scintillations (S4 index) observed throughout 2008\textendash2010 using the satellite radio occultation measurements of the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC). Here, for the first time, periodic variability in the occurrence of S4 is investigated using these data. Significant variations of S4 with periods of 2.5\textendash4 days (quasi-3 days) are identified from the observations during postsunset hours (1900\textendash2400 local time) between 15\textdegreeS\textendash 15\textdegreeN magnetic latitude during this 3 year interval. Coherence analyses of these variations with the geomagnetic Ap index, solar EUV irradiance, and atmospheric wind measurements from an equatorial mesosphere meteor radar at Thumba, India ( 8.5\textdegreeN, 77\textdegreeE) are performed, providing a measure of the relationship between variations in the scintillations and potential drivers. The quasi-3 day variations in S4 are found to covary with the variations of the three drivers examined. In particular, the S4 signatures are found to be coherent with the atmospheric ultrafast Kelvin (UFK) planetary waves characterized by the zonal wind measurements of the radar. This study shows that these UFK waves are as important as the solar and geomagnetic drivers in forcing the day-to-day variations of the occurrence of equatorial spread F.

Liu, Guiping; Immel, Thomas; England, Scott; Frey, Harald; Mende, Stephen; Kumar, Karanam; Ramkumar, Geetha;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics      Published on: 02/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.1002/jgra.50139

day-to-day variability; Equatorial ionosphere; scintillation; Ultra Fast Kelvin planetary wave

Nonmigrating tidal signatures in the magnitude and the inter-hemispheric asymmetry of the equatorial ionization anomaly

Based on nine years of observations from the satellites CHAMP and GRACE the tidal signatures in the magnitude and the inter-hemisphere asymmetry of the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) have been investigated in this study. The EIA magnitude parameters show longitudinal wavenumber 4 and 3 (WN4/WN3) patterns during the months around August and December, respectively, while for different EIA parameters the contributions of the various tidal parameters are different. For the crest- to-trough ratio (CTR) the dominating nonmigrating tidal component contributing to WN4 is DE3 during the months around August, while during the months around December solstice the stationary planetary wave, SPW3, takes a comparable role to DE2 in contributing to WN3. For the apex height index (ApexHC) of the EIA fluxtube the stationary planetary waves, SPW4/SPW3, exceed the amplitudes of DE3/DE2 taking the leading role in causing the longitudinal WN4/WN3 patterns. During the\  months around December solstice the SW3 tide is prominent in both CTR and ApexHC. SW3 shows a strong dependence on the solar flux level, while it is hardly dependent on magnetic activity. For the EIA interhemispheric asymmetry only WN1 and WN2 longitudinal patterns can be seen. During June solstice months the pattern can be explained by stationary planetary waves SPW1 and SPW2. Conversely, around December solstice months longitudinal features exhibit some local time evolution,\  in particular the diurnal nonmigrating tide D0 takes the leading role.

Xiong, C.; Lühr, H.;

Published by: Annales Geophysicae      Published on: 01/2013

YEAR: 2013     DOI: 10.5194/angeo-31-1115-2013

Atmospheric dynamics; Equatorial ionosphere; Ionosphere; ionosphere\textendashatmosphere interactions. Meteorology

Equatorial ionosphere responses to two magnetic storms of moderate intensity from conjugate point observations in Brazil

Equatorial ionospheric responses during two magnetic storms of moderate intensity are investigated, for the first time, by conjugate point observations in Brazil. The study focuses on storm-induced changes in the evening prereversal vertical drift, thermospheric trans-equatorial winds, spread F/plasma bubble irregularity development, electron density/plasma frequency heights, the EIA strength, and zonal plasma drifts. It is based on data obtained from five Digisondes operated in Brazil, three of them being part of a conjugate point equatorial experiment (COPEX) involving a dip equatorial and two magnetic conjugate sites at \textpm12\textdegree. The other two were operated at the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) trough and crest locations at nearby magnetic meridians. The results bring out, and clarify, many outstanding aspects of the strong influence of storm time electric fields on the equatorial ionosphere at different phases of the two long lasting storm sequences. During both storms prompt penetration electric fields dominated the ionospheric response features as compared to the disturbance wind dynamo effects that were not very conspicuous. An under-shielding (over-shielding) electric field occurring in the evening hours causes enhancement (suppression) of the prereversal vertical drift and post sunset spread F/plasma bubble generation. The same electric fields cause post sunset EIA enhancement and suppression, respectively. Post sunset (post midnight) spread F can develop from under-shielding (over-shielding) electric fields, while it can be disrupted by over-shielding (under-shielding) electric field. Trans-equatorial winds are found to be ineffective to stabilize the post sunset F region against the destabilizing effect of strong prereversal vertical drift. Storm time westward plasma drifts are found to be driven by prompt penetration eastward electric fields (through their effect of inducing vertical Hall electric fields), rather than by a disturbance westward thermospheric wind during these storms.

Abdu, M.; Batista, I.; Bertoni, F.; Reinisch, B.; Kherani, E.; Sobral, J.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 05/2012

YEAR: 2012     DOI: 10.1029/2011JA017174

Equatorial ionosphere; Magnetic storms; plasma bubbles; plasma drifts; spread F; transequatorial winds

Coordinated UV imaging of equatorial plasma bubbles using TIMED/GUVI and DMSP/SSUSI

Comberiate, Joseph; Paxton, L.;

Published by: Space Weather      Published on: Jan-01-2010

YEAR: 2010     DOI: 10.1029/2009SW000546

Equatorial ionosphere; ionospheric irregularities; scintillation

Neutral density depletions associated with equatorial plasma bubbles as observed by the CHAMP satellite

Using CHAMP observations from 2002 to 2005 we investigate neutral density depletions (NDDs) associated with equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). The seasonal–longitudinal distribution of NDDs generally follows that of EPBs. However, there are several important differences between them. The maximum NDD occurrence rate is much smaller than the maximum EPB occurrence. NDDs occur at latitudes north and south of the dip equator with an offset of about 15∘, which is collocated with the Appleton anomaly peaks and slightly poleward of EPB occurrence maxima. The NDD occurrence maximizes around 21 LT, and has nearly died out after 23 LT. Meanwhile, the EPB occurrence shows a broad maximum between 20 and 24 LT. NDD distribution deviates slightly from that of EPBs shifted toward the region of high ion–neutral interaction. Based on our statistical results, as well as on some physics-based calculations, we suggest that an enhanced friction between ions and neutrals is needed for the NDD generation.

Park, Jaeheung; Lühr, Hermann; Min, Kyoung;

Published by: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics      Published on:

YEAR: 2010     DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2009.11.003

ionospheric irregularities; Equatorial ionosphere; thermospheric dynamics; ionosphere/atmosphere interactions

Formation of a plasma depletion shell in the equatorial ionosphere

An accurate description of the irregularity region defined by a plasma bubble is critically important in understanding the dynamics of the region and its effects on radio scintillation. Here we describe a plasma depletion region as a \textquotedblleftdepletion shell\textquotedblright and show how two-dimensional optical images from space can be used to define the shape of the depletion shell. Our simple model calculation demonstrates that the space-based optical observation can detect the plasma-depleted magnetic flux tubes only near the F-peak height. The backward C-shape in bubble images from optical observations is the trace of the plasma depletion shell near the F-peak height. The westward tilt of bubbles at the magnetic equator can also be explained by this shell structure. The in situ measurement of the ion velocity at night in the topside shows the decrease of the eastward plasma drift with an increase of latitude. The formation of the plasma depletion shell is consistent with the latitudinal/altitudinal shear in the zonal plasma flow.

Kil, Hyosub; Heelis, Roderick; Paxton, Larry; Oh, Seung-Jun;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 11/2009

YEAR: 2009     DOI: 10.1029/2009JA014369

Equatorial ionosphere; plasma depletion shell; zonal shear flow

Wave structures of the plasma density and vertical E$\times$ B drift in low-latitude F region

We investigate the seasonal, longitudinal, local time (LT), and altitudinal variations of the F region morphology at low latitudes using data from the first Republic of China satellite (ROCSAT-1), Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI), on board the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics (TIMED) satellite, and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 and F15 satellites. Signatures of the longitudinally periodic plasma density structure emerge before 0900 LT. The wave structure is established before noon and further amplified in the afternoon. The amplitudes of the wave structure start to diminish in the evening. The wave-4 structure is clearly distinguishable during equinox and northern hemisphere summer. During northern hemisphere winter, the density structure can be characterized to either wave-4 or wave-3 structure owing to marginal separation of the two peaks in 180°–300°E. Observations of similar density structures from ROCSAT-1 (600 km) and DMSP (840 km) at 0930 and 1800 LT indicate the extension of the wave structure to altitudes greater than 840 km. The daytime wave structure persists into the night during the equinoxes but is significantly modified during the solstices. The modification is more significant at higher altitudes and is attributed to the effects of interhemispheric winds and the prereversal enhancement. The formation of the wavelike density structure in the morning and its temporal evolution in the afternoon show a close association with the vertical E × B drift. We conclude that the E × B drift during 0900–1200 LT determines the formation of the wavelike density structure.

Kil, H.; Talaat, E.; Oh, S.-J.; Paxton, L.; England, S.; Su, S.-Y.;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: Jan-01-2008

YEAR: 2008     DOI: 10.1029/2008JA013106

Equatorial ionosphere; wave structure; atmospheric tide

Ionospheric disturbances during the magnetic storm of 15 July 2000: Role of the fountain effect and plasma bubbles for the formation of large equatorial plasma density depletions

We investigate the role of the fountain effect and plasma bubbles for the formation of the large equatorial plasma depletions during the geomagnetic storm of 15 July 2000. The large equatorial plasma depletions are detected in the Atlantic sector on the night of the 15th by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F15 and the first Republic of China Satellite (ROCSAT-1). The observations show discontinuous drop of the plasma density at the walls of the depletions, flat plasma density inside the depletions, and persistence or growth of the depletions over night. These properties are not consistent with the trough morphology induced by the fountain effect. The coincident ionospheric observations of DMSP F15 and ROCSAT-1 demonstrate that the large depletions are created in the longitude regions where plasma bubbles are present. The occurrence of the large depletions after sunset, elongation in the north-south direction, formation of steep walls, and colocation with plasma bubbles at lower altitudes or earlier times suggest that the large depletions are closely associated with plasma bubbles.

Kil, Hyosub; Paxton, Larry;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 12/2006

YEAR: 2006     DOI: 10.1029/2006JA011742

Equatorial ionosphere; geomagnetic storm; ionospheric disturbances

Characteristics of the storm-induced big bubbles (SIBBs)

Large equatorial plasma depletions, referred to as storm-induced big bubbles (SIBBs), are detected from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F15 and from the first Republic of China Satellite during the large magnetic storms of 31 March 2001, 29 October 2003, and 20 November 2003. They occur in the equatorial region at night, are elongated in the north-south direction, have steep walls, and always coexist with plasma bubbles. These observations are consistent with the SIBB characteristics described in the companion paper by Kil and Paxton [2006] and corroborate that the SIBBs are associated with bubbles. We discuss the common characteristics of the SIBBs and the role of the E \texttimes B drift for the formation of the SIBBs.

Kil, Hyosub; Paxton, L.; Su, Shin-Yi; Zhang, Yongliang; Yeh, Hweyching;

Published by: Journal of Geophysical Research      Published on: 10/2006

YEAR: 2006     DOI: 10.1029/2006JA011743

Equatorial ionosphere; geomagnetic storm; irregularities