Small scale irregularities associated with a high latitude electron density gradient: scintillation and EISCAT observations

L. Kersley*, S. E. Pryse, N. S. Wheadon

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A coordinated experiment involving scintillation observations using NNSS satellites and special program measurements with the EISCAT ionospheric radar facility is described. The results reveal the presence of sub-kilometre scale irregularities in the vicinity of a long lived steep equatorwards gradient in electron density. Evidence is presented of a southwards plasma flow which would cause the gradient to be unstable to the E Λ B gradient-drift mechanism. An instability growth time of about 4 min has been estimated from the observations. Cooler electron temperatures associated with enhanced densities rules out soft particle precipitation as an irregularity source in this case.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)557-563
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Atmospheric and Terrestrial Physics
Volume50
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 1988

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