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Coupled electrodynamics in the nighttime midlatitude ionosphere
Author(s) -
Tsunoda Roland T.,
Cosgrove Russell B.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013245
Subject(s) - ionosphere , middle latitudes , sporadic e propagation , geophysics , plasma , polarization (electrochemistry) , electric field , f region , backscatter (email) , atmospheric sciences , physics , geology , radar , chemistry , telecommunications , quantum mechanics , computer science , wireless
We describe a new, self‐consistent scenario in which sporadic‐ E doublets, height bands of upward‐displaced F ‐layer profiles, F ‐region plasma depletions, and radar backscatter plumes, are all manifestations of a coupled electrodynamical response by the nighttime midlatitude ionosphere to the presence of a traveling ionospheric disturbance (TID). We show that the response consists of (1) formation of image plasma structure in the E region, (2) initiation of a Hall‐current‐driven polarization process by the E ‐region plasma structure, and (3) mapping of the polarization electric field to the F region, where it strengthens the electrical properties of the TID that initiated the E ‐region processes. This scenario provides ready answers for several, hitherto puzzling, questions and a basis for new directions on this research topic.