On the Spatial Relationship of 1-Meter Equatorial Irregularities and Depletions in Total Electron Contents.

Abstract

A radar experiment was conducted at Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands to investigate the spatial relationship of 1-m equatorial spread-F irregularities to total electron content (TEC) depletion. A high-power radar was operated (1) in a backscatter scan mode to spatially map the distribution of 1-m irregularities, and (2) in a dual-frequency, satellite-track mode to obtain the longitudinal TEC variations. Using the radar data, we show that radar backscatter 'plumes' found in the disturbed, nighttime equatorial ionosphere are longitudinally coincident with TEC depletions. We suggest that the TEC depletions are probably due to the presence of plasma bubbles in the equatorial F layer. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA082185

Entities

People

  • Roland T. Tsunoda

Organizations

  • SRI International

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Altitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Backscattering
  • Computer Science
  • Department Of Defense
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Engineering
  • Frequency
  • Kwajalein Atoll
  • Marshall Islands
  • Navy
  • Rayleigh Taylor Instability
  • Security
  • Space Systems
  • Systems Engineering

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Spectroscopy.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space