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Nonlinear evolution of diffuse auroral F region ionospheric irregularities
Author(s) -
Keskinen M. J.,
Ossakow S. L.,
McDonald B. E.
Publication year - 1980
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/gl007i008p00573
Subject(s) - ionosphere , geophysics , convection , plasma , tec , electron precipitation , f region , geology , instability , physics , magnetosphere , meteorology , mechanics , quantum mechanics
Numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the current convective instability in the diffuse aurora have been performed for conditions typical of the nighttime high latitude F region. Our results show nearly field aligned plasma irregularities developing in regions of well‐defined northward gradients of total electron content (TEC) and field‐aligned diffuse auroral particle precipitation. In addition, we find equatorward movement of plasma enhancements and northward (poleward) movement of plasma depletions (holes). Furthermore, one‐dimensional spatial power spectra of the irregularities in both the north‐south and east‐west directions are well described by inverse power laws.