Dilatory and Downward Development of 3‐m Scale Irregularities in the Funnel‐Like Region of a Rapidly Rising Equatorial Plasma Bubble. Issue 13 (24th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tulasi Ram, S.; Ajith, K. K.; Yokoyama, T.; Yamamoto, M.; Hozumi, K.; Shiokawa, K.; Otsuka, Y.; Li, G.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 47:Issue 13(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-06-24
• Subjects: equatorial plasma bubble -- ionospheric scintillation -- electric fields and model simulations; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1029/2020GL087256
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: The equatorial plasma bubbles, once developed, grow nonlinearly into topside ionosphere, and simultaneous secondary instabilities lead to the development of shorter scale irregularities. The altitudinal growth and generation of smaller scale irregularities determine the spatio‐temporal occurrence and the intensity of ionospheric scintillations at wide spectrum of radio waves and have significant implications on the GNSS/Satellite Based Augmentation Systems. In this letter, we present a unique equatorial plasma bubble observation from equatorial atmosphere radar that provides hitherto undisclosed evidence for the smaller (3‐m) scale irregularities initially developing at higher altitudes and subsequently developing to lower altitudes in a narrow funnel‐like structure. The responsible mechanisms for early development of shorter scale irregularities in the topside and their subsequent development at lower altitudes are discussed in light of difference between the time scales of altitudinal growth and cascading rate of secondary instabilities through high‐resolution bubble model simulations. Key Points: Unusual observation of EPB with smaller scale irregularities appears initially at top and dilatory development in narrow funnel region later We suggest that rapid vertical rise of bubble due to large background electric field surpassed the rate of cascading secondary instabilities Hypothesis is tested with the available background ionospheric conditions and high‐resolution bubble model simulations