Enhanced ionospheric plasma bubble generation in more active ITCZ

A close link between the atmospheric Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and ionospheric plasma bubble has been proposed since the last century. But this relationship has often appeared to be less than convincing due to the simultaneous roles played by several other factors in shaping the global d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Geophysical research letters 2016-03, Vol.43 (6), p.2389-2395
Main Authors: Li, Guozhu, Otsuka, Yuichi, Ning, Baiqi, Abdu, M. A., Yamamoto, M., Wan, Weixing, Liu, Libo, Abadi, Prayitno
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
atmospheric Intertropical Convergence Zone
Bubbles
Convergence
Convergence zones
Geophysics
Gravitation
Gravitational waves
Gravity
gravity wave
Gravity waves
Intertropical convergence zone
Ionosphere
Ionospheric plasma
ionospheric plasma bubble
Ionospherics
Longitude
Nucleation
Plasma
Plasma bubbles
Radar
Steering
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Summary:A close link between the atmospheric Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and ionospheric plasma bubble has been proposed since the last century. But this relationship has often appeared to be less than convincing due to the simultaneous roles played by several other factors in shaping the global distribution of ionospheric bubbles. From simultaneous collaborative radar multibeam steering measurements at Kototabang (0.2°S, 100.3°E) and Sanya (18.4°N, 109.6°E), conducted during September–October of 2012 and 2013, we find that the total numbers of nights with bubble (i.e., occurrence rates) at the two closely located longitudes (Kototabang and Sanya) are comparable. But interestingly, the total number of nights with locally generated bubble (i.e., generation rate) over Kototabang is clearly more than that over Sanya. Further analysis reveals that a more active ITCZ is situated around the longitude of Kototabang. We surmise that the enhanced ionospheric bubble generation at Kototabang longitude could be caused by a higher gravity wave activity associated with the more active ITCZ. Key Points Ionospheric bubble generation rates at two closely located longitudes can be very different Bubble generation obviously enhanced in more active ITCZ The enhanced generation can be explained by GWs in ITCZ that provide seeding source
ISSN:0094-8276
1944-8007
DOI:10.1002/2016GL068145