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Fringe field dynamics over equatorial and low‐latitude ionosphere: A three‐dimensional perspective
Author(s) -
Kherani E. A.,
Patra A. K.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1002/2015ja021438
Subject(s) - ionosphere , f region , geology , radar , perturbation (astronomy) , equator , geophysics , latitude , plasma , instability , physics , atmospheric sciences , geodesy , mechanics , astronomy , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science
This paper presents a three‐dimensional simulation of the collisional interchange instability generating equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) in the evening ionospheric F region and associated fringe field (FF) in the valley‐upper‐ E ( V E ) region. This simulation is primarily intended to address hitherto unexplained radar observations of ascending irregularity structures only in the vicinity of the magnetic equator in association with the EPB phenomenon. Novel results of the present simulation are the following: (1) EPB‐associated FF penetrating into the E region is found to be confined to a latitude belt of ±5 ∘ , (2) ascending irregularity structures from the E region is formed only when perturbation in plasma parameters similar to those responsible for forming EPB are present in the V E region, and (3) perturbation in the V E region provide conditions for the formation of ascending irregularity structures on the eastern wall of the plasma bubble. These results are in excellent agreement with radar observations and also account for the presence of metallic ions in the EPB at and above the F region peak.