Statistical Analysis of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Climatology and Multi‐Day Periodicity Using GOLD Observations
Abstract
This study develops a new Bubble Index to quantify the intensity of 2‐D postsunset equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) in the American/Atlantic sector, using Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) nighttime data. A climatology and day‐to‐day variability analysis of EPBs is conducted based on the newly‐derived Bubble Index with the following results: (a) EPBs show considerable seasonal and solar activity dependence, with stronger (weaker) intensity around December (June) solstice and high (low) solar activity years. (b) EPBs exhibit opposite geomagnetic activity dependencies during different storm phases: EPBs are intensified concurrently with an increasing Kp, but are suppressed with high Kp occurring 3–6 hr earlier. (c) For the first time, we found that EPBs' day‐to‐day variation exhibited quasi‐3‐day and quasi‐6‐day periods. A coordinated analysis of Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) winds and ionosonde data suggests that this multi‐day periodicity was related to the planetary wave modulation through the wind‐driven dynamo.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 26, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1029/2023gl103510
Entities
People
- Anthea J. Coster
- D. K. Karan
- Ercha Aa
- Guiping Liu
- Liying Qian
- Philip J. Erickson
- Richard W. Eastes
- S. Derghazarian
- Shun-Rong Zhang
- Wenbin Wang
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Center for Atmospheric Research
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research