Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles

Abstract Manifestations of severe nighttime equatorial ionospheric disturbances have been observed for decades. It is generally accepted that the phenomena are caused by large depletions, referred to as equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which are initiated on the rising unstable bottom side of the n...

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Main Authors: Charles Rino, Tatsuhiro Yokoyama, Charles Carrano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018-12-01
Series:Progress in Earth and Planetary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40645-018-0243-0
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author Charles Rino
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Charles Carrano
author_facet Charles Rino
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Charles Carrano
author_sort Charles Rino
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Manifestations of severe nighttime equatorial ionospheric disturbances have been observed for decades. It is generally accepted that the phenomena are caused by large depletions, referred to as equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which are initiated on the rising unstable bottom side of the nighttime F layer. Physics-based simulations have enhanced our understanding of the EPB phenomenon. However, until very recently, stochastic structure smaller than ∼ 10 km was not well resolved. Recent high-resolution EPB simulations have extended the resolution to hundreds of meters, which provides a unique opportunity to characterize intermediate-scale EPB structure.This paper presents a summary analysis of simulated high-resolution intermediate-scale EPB structure. Estimation of altitude-dependent power law spectral density function parameters provides an altitude versus time history of the intermediate-scale structure development. Local structure onset is associated with successive bifurcation of rising EPBs. Developed structure characterized by a two-component power law spectral density function ultimately subtends several hundred kilometers in altitude.Two-component inverse power-law structure was first observed in early in situ rocket measurements. It has been observed in diagnostic measurements of beacon-satellite and GPS scintillation data as well as in situ measurements from Atmospheric Explorer and C/NOFS satellites. The EPB simulation data fully support the reported EPB diagnostics as well as a correlation between the turbulent strength and the large-scale spectral index parameter estimates. However, recent analyses have shown that the correlation is an intrinsic property of power-law parameter estimation.
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spelling doaj.art-575efb29687e468d85cb725b2fed710f2022-12-22T00:03:45ZengSpringerOpenProgress in Earth and Planetary Science2197-42842018-12-015111310.1186/s40645-018-0243-0Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubblesCharles Rino0Tatsuhiro Yokoyama1Charles Carrano2Institute for Scientific Research, Boston CollegeNational Institute of Information and Communications TechnologyInstitute for Scientific Research, Boston CollegeAbstract Manifestations of severe nighttime equatorial ionospheric disturbances have been observed for decades. It is generally accepted that the phenomena are caused by large depletions, referred to as equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), which are initiated on the rising unstable bottom side of the nighttime F layer. Physics-based simulations have enhanced our understanding of the EPB phenomenon. However, until very recently, stochastic structure smaller than ∼ 10 km was not well resolved. Recent high-resolution EPB simulations have extended the resolution to hundreds of meters, which provides a unique opportunity to characterize intermediate-scale EPB structure.This paper presents a summary analysis of simulated high-resolution intermediate-scale EPB structure. Estimation of altitude-dependent power law spectral density function parameters provides an altitude versus time history of the intermediate-scale structure development. Local structure onset is associated with successive bifurcation of rising EPBs. Developed structure characterized by a two-component power law spectral density function ultimately subtends several hundred kilometers in altitude.Two-component inverse power-law structure was first observed in early in situ rocket measurements. It has been observed in diagnostic measurements of beacon-satellite and GPS scintillation data as well as in situ measurements from Atmospheric Explorer and C/NOFS satellites. The EPB simulation data fully support the reported EPB diagnostics as well as a correlation between the turbulent strength and the large-scale spectral index parameter estimates. However, recent analyses have shown that the correlation is an intrinsic property of power-law parameter estimation.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40645-018-0243-0Equatorial spread FPower-law ionospheric structureConvective plasma instabilityStructure characterization
spellingShingle Charles Rino
Tatsuhiro Yokoyama
Charles Carrano
Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
Progress in Earth and Planetary Science
Equatorial spread F
Power-law ionospheric structure
Convective plasma instability
Structure characterization
title Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
title_full Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
title_fullStr Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
title_short Dynamic spectral characteristics of high-resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
title_sort dynamic spectral characteristics of high resolution simulated equatorial plasma bubbles
topic Equatorial spread F
Power-law ionospheric structure
Convective plasma instability
Structure characterization
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40645-018-0243-0
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AT tatsuhiroyokoyama dynamicspectralcharacteristicsofhighresolutionsimulatedequatorialplasmabubbles
AT charlescarrano dynamicspectralcharacteristicsofhighresolutionsimulatedequatorialplasmabubbles