Electric field and magnetic signatures of equatorial plasma irregularities as observed by the C/NOFS satellite

In April 2008, the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory was launched to predict and observe low-latitude plasma irregularities that cause ionospheric scintillation. Using its Planar Langmuir Probe (PLP), Vector Electric Field Instrument (VEFI), and magnetometer, C/NOFS is capable of measuring in situ ion density, vector electric fields, and vector magnetic fields in the F region. We present observations of regularly occurring plasma irregularities as well as its intrinsic perturbations to both ambient electric and magnetic field. With measurements of electric field and magnetic perturbations, we hope to better understand the current flows within and/or around plasma irregularities that is essential to understanding the dynamics of plasma irregularities.