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An explanation of the kilometer scale wave in the equatorial electrojet
Author(s) -
Duhau Silvia,
de Mendoza Diego Hurtado
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl02057
Subject(s) - turbulence , geophysics , equatorial electrojet , kilometer , physics , geology , geodesy , radar , meteorology , depth sounding , perturbation (astronomy) , electrojet , instability , atmospheric sciences , mechanics , magnetic field , earth's magnetic field , telecommunications , oceanography , quantum mechanics , astronomy , computer science
Density irregularities in the equatorial electrojet are dominated by kilometer scale waves. In this report we combine a few simple ideas about strong turbulence and non‐local effects due to the vertical structure of the equatorial E ‐region. This leads to a preference for kilometer scale waves. We include the vertical current conservation effect, the eddy turnover, and the growth velocity. We determine the saturation of density perturbation driven by the gradient drift instability. This heuristic theory predicts phenomena consistent with sounding rocket and coherent radar observations. It also gives same general clues about the interaction between the ambient and the turbulent scale flows.