Nonmigrating Tidal Features in the Equatorial Plasma Bubble Distribution
Abstract
Atmospheric nonmigrating tides have been recognized as an important driver behind the ionospheric and thermospheric morphologies in low latitudes. Recently, the investigation of the tidal effect on the ionosphere extended to the activity of equatorial plasma bubbles. In this study, we validate the tide-bubble connection hypothesis by examining the tidal characteristics of the bubble distribution. The global bubble distributions are obtained from the ROCSAT-1, DMSP, TIMED, CHAMP, and C/NOFS satellite observations during 1999-2010. The key element in the validation of the tide-bubble connection hypothesis is to identify the existence of the longitudinal wave number 4 pattern in the bubble distribution. The seasonal variation of the wave number 4 pattern amplitude in the bubble distribution is an additional tool to validate the tide-bubble connection hypothesis. Our investigation extends to the solar cycle variation of the bubble activity and its association with tides.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMSA51B2180O
- Keywords:
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- 2415 IONOSPHERE / Equatorial ionosphere;
- 2439 IONOSPHERE / Ionospheric irregularities