Major upwelling and overturning in the mid-latitude F region ionosphere
Abstract
Profiles of the electron number density in the ionosphere are observed at the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico on a regular basis. Here, we report on recent observations showing anomalous irregularities in the density profiles at altitudes >~300 km. The irregularities occurred during a period of “mid-latitude spread F,” a space-weather phenomenon relatively common at middle latitudes in summer months characterized by instability and electron density irregularities in the bottomside of the ionospheric F layer. Remarkably, electron density irregularities extended well above the layer, through the ionization peak and into the topside which is regarded as being stable. Neither the neutral atmosphere nor the ionosphere is thought to be able to support turbulence locally at this altitude. A numerical simulation is used to illustrate how a combination of atmospheric and plasma dynamics driven at lower altitudes could explain the phenomenon.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1038/s41467-018-05809-x
Entities
People
- Brian Laughman
- D. L. Hysell
- David C Fritts
- Michael Sulzer
- Miguel Larsen
Organizations
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Naval Research Global