Evidence for a Rayleigh-Taylor type instability and upwelling of depleted density regions during equatorial spread F
Abstract
Recent rocket probe, barium cloud and radar measurements conducted during equatorial spread F conditions are interpreted in terms of a Rayleigh-Taylor gravitational instability operating on the bottomside of the F peak. The persistent theoretical problems associated with strong radar echoes typically observed in patch-like structures at high altitudes are explained in terms of regions of depleted plasma density which bouyantly rise against the gravitational field.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- August 1976
- DOI:
- 10.1029/GL003i008p00448
- Bibcode:
- 1976GeoRL...3..448K
- Keywords:
-
- Barium Ion Clouds;
- Ionospheric Disturbances;
- Plasma Density;
- Rocket Sounding;
- Spread F;
- Taylor Instability;
- Density Distribution;
- Doppler Effect;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Magnetic Equator;
- Plasma Probes;
- Radar Echoes;
- Rocket-Borne Instruments;
- Vertical Distribution;
- Aeronomy: Absorption and scattering of radiation (particles or waves);
- Particles and Fields-Ionosphere: Interactions between waves and particles;
- Particles and Fields-Ionosphere: Ionospheric disturbances;
- Particles and Fields-Ionosphere: Plasma motion;
- convection;
- or circulation