Major upwelling and overturning in the mid-latitude F region ionosphere

Profiles of the electron number density in the ionosphere are observed at the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico on a regular basis. Here, we report on recent observations showing anomalous irregularities in the density profiles at altitudes >~300 km. The irregularities occurred during a pe...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2018-08, Vol.9 (1), p.3326-11, Article 3326
Main Authors: Hysell, David, Larsen, Miguel, Fritts, David, Laughman, Brian, Sulzer, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/766/525
704/525
Altitude
Computer simulation
Electron density
F region
Humanities and Social Sciences
Ionization
Ionosphere
Irregularities
Latitude
Mathematical models
multidisciplinary
Plasma
Plasma dynamics
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Spread F
Stability
Upwelling
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Profiles of the electron number density in the ionosphere are observed at the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico on a regular basis. Here, we report on recent observations showing anomalous irregularities in the density profiles at altitudes >~300 km. The irregularities occurred during a period of “mid-latitude spread F ,” a space-weather phenomenon relatively common at middle latitudes in summer months characterized by instability and electron density irregularities in the bottomside of the ionospheric F layer. Remarkably, electron density irregularities extended well above the layer, through the ionization peak and into the topside which is regarded as being stable. Neither the neutral atmosphere nor the ionosphere is thought to be able to support turbulence locally at this altitude. A numerical simulation is used to illustrate how a combination of atmospheric and plasma dynamics driven at lower altitudes could explain the phenomenon. The ionosphere can give rise to irregularities that can interfere with radio communication, navigation and satellite systems. Here the authors present unique observations from the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico to reveal the existence of plasma irregularities occur in the mid-latitude F -region.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-05809-x