Investigation of Ionospheric Disturbances
Abstract
Methods are described for solving the diffusion equation for trapped particles precipitating in the ionosphere. It is shown that the variation of the particle distribution with spatial location, both latitudinal and longitudinal, must be considered, and that the bounce averaged diffusion equations are inadequate to treat the loss-cone distributions. The coupling of precipitating particles to the ionosphere is described, with applications of the AURORA code. Mid-latitude WIDEBAND observations are described, with a discussion of interpretations based on trapped particle precipitation. Recent observations are described of loss-cone distributions of ions and electrons which do not fit the simple diffusion model. It is shown that these observations can be accounted for by the presence of kilovolt electric fields aligned with the magnetic field. It is shown that the ionosphere at large distances from a high-altitude nuclear explosion may be unstable to the Farley-Buneman mechanism, thereby providing a new mechanism for ionospheric irregularities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 28, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA043965
Entities
People
- G. T. Davidson
- J. B. Cladis
- L. L. Newkirk
- M. Walt
- W. E. Francis
Organizations
- Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space