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On the spatial relationship of 1‐meter equatorial spread‐F irregularities and depletions in total electron content
Author(s) -
Tsunoda Roland T.,
Towle David M.
Publication year - 1979
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/gl006i011p00873
Subject(s) - tec , total electron content , ionosphere , f region , backscatter (email) , geology , radar , atmospheric sciences , latitude , remote sensing , geophysics , geodesy , telecommunications , computer science , wireless
An experiment was conducted at Kwajalein AtollMarshall Islands to investigate the spatial relationship of 1‐m equatorial spread‐F irregularities to total electron content (TEC) depletions. A high‐power radar was operated (1) in a backscatter scan mode to spatially map the distribution of 1‐m irregularitiesand (2) in a dual‐frequencysatellite‐track mode to obtain the longitudinal TEC variations. We show that radar backscatter “plumes” found in the disturbednighttime 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.