Nonlinear Equatorial Spread F.

Abstract

A numerical simulation of the nonlinear evolution of the collisional Rayleigh-Taylor instability using a set of equations appropriate for the equatorial F region ionosphere has been performed. Our results show that the irregularities produced by the instability grow on the bottomside of the F region peak, as predicted by linear theory, and then the irregularities nonlinearly bubble through to the topside, where linear theory predicts no irregularities. Fourier analysis of the irregularities show one-dimensional power-law power spectra for both the vertical and horizontal directions. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA024440

Entities

People

  • A. J. Scannapieco
  • Sidney L. Ossakow

Organizations

  • United States Naval Research Laboratory

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Diffraction
  • Equations
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Instability
  • Ionosphere
  • Mathematics
  • Personal Information Managers
  • Power Spectra
  • Rayleigh Taylor Instability
  • Simulations
  • Spectra
  • Wave Phenomena

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Atmospheric Science / Meteorology, specifically Wind Wave Turbulence.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.