Large Amplitude Irregularities at Low Latitudes in the Topside Ionosphere.

Abstract

Observations from the high resolution spherical electrostatic analyzer experiment aboard ISIS I have been used to study large amplitude irregularities at low latitudes in the topside ionosphere. The irregularities appeared as plasma depletions near the magnetic equator and were observed up to satellite apogee (3500 km). The altitude-local time distribution of the depletions was such that those at altitudes greater than 2000 km were found only in the post-midnight sector. This result agrees with the predictions of a simple MHD model for plasma bubbles drifting under the influence of gravity-buoyancy forces. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 28, 1977
Accession Number
ADA052268

Entities

People

  • D. E. Donatelli
  • M. C. Kelley
  • R. C. Sagalyn
  • W. J. Burke

Organizations

  • Air Force Research Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Charged Particles
  • Computer Simulations
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrostatic Analyzers
  • Equations
  • Geographic Regions
  • Grids
  • High Altitude
  • High Latitudes
  • Ion Density
  • Ions
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Measurement

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Plasma Physics.
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space