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Interaction of Oppositely Traveling Medium‐Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances Observed in Low Latitudes During Geomagnetically Quiet Nighttime
Author(s) -
Wu Kun,
Xu Jiyao,
Wang Wenbin,
Sun Longchang,
Yuan Wei
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2020ja028723
Subject(s) - ionosphere , quiet , geology , geophysics , global positioning system , polarization (electrochemistry) , low latitude , geodesy , physics , astronomy , telecommunications , chemistry , computer science
Abstract In this study, an unusual event of medium‐scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) that propagated in opposite directions was observed by multi‐instruments (all‐sky imager, global positioning system (GPS), and digisonde) in low latitudes during geomagnetically quiet nighttime. These MSTIDs had wavefronts aligned from northwest to southeast. One MSTID propagated southwestward and another propagated northeastward. They encountered and interacted with each other. Some MSTIDs structures merged into one and disappeared after the interaction. Furthermore, an eastward moving plasma bubble also encountered the MSTIDs and then gradually dissipated during the propagation process. The MSTIDs traveling in opposite directions should be related to ionospheric plasma motion and their trigger mechanisms. The interactive process of MSTIDS involved in plasma drifts and polarization electric fields. Meanwhile, the interaction with an ionospheric irregularity structure can change some of the MSTID characteristics.