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Full-Text Articles in Physics
Quiet Time Equatorial F Region Vertical Plasma Drift Model Derived From Rocsat-1 Observations, Bela G. Fejer, J. W. Jensen, S. Y. Su
Quiet Time Equatorial F Region Vertical Plasma Drift Model Derived From Rocsat-1 Observations, Bela G. Fejer, J. W. Jensen, S. Y. Su
Bela G. Fejer
[1] We have used five years of measurements on board the ROCSAT-1 satellite to develop a detailed quiet time global empirical model for equatorial F region vertical plasma drifts. This model describes the local time, seasonal and longitudinal dependence of the vertical drifts for an altitude of 600 km under moderate and high solar flux conditions. The model results are in excellent agreement with measurements from the Jicamarca radar and also from other ground-based and in situ probes. We show that the longitudinal dependence of the daytime and nighttime vertical drifts is much stronger than reported earlier, especially during December …
Anomalous F Region Response To Moderate Solar Flares, C. G. Smithtro, Jan Josef Sojka, T. Berkey, Donald C. Thompson, Robert W. Schunk
Anomalous F Region Response To Moderate Solar Flares, C. G. Smithtro, Jan Josef Sojka, T. Berkey, Donald C. Thompson, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
Ionograms recorded with a dynasonde at Bear Lake Observatory, Utah, during moderate solar x-ray flares exhibit characteristic enhancements to the E and F 1 region ionosphere. However, during these same flares, the peak electron density of the ionosphere (N m F 2) unexpectedly decreases, recovering after the flare ends. In order to reconcile this anomalous behavior with expected increases to the total electron content (TEC), we undertake a modeling effort using the Time-Dependent Ionospheric Model (TDIM) developed at Utah State University. For solar input, a simple flare time irradiance model is created, using measurements from the Solar EUV Experiment instrument …
Climatology Of F Region Zonalplasma Drifts Over Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, J. R. Souza, A. S. Santos, A. E. Costa Pereira
Climatology Of F Region Zonalplasma Drifts Over Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, J. R. Souza, A. S. Santos, A. E. Costa Pereira
Bela G. Fejer
[1] We use extensive incoherent scatter radar observations made at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory between 1970 and 2003 to study and model empirically the equatorial zonal plasma drifts near the F region peak using Bernstein polynomials as base functions. Our quiet-time model results confirm that the daytime drifts are westward and are nearly season and solar cycle independent. The nighttime drifts are eastward, have larger magnitudes, and increase strongly with solar flux, particularly near equinox and December solstice. Enhanced geomagnetic activity drives small eastward perturbation drifts during the day and much larger westward disturbance drifts at night. The nighttime drift …
Average Nighttime F Region Disturbance Neutral Winds Measured By Windi Uars: Initial Results, J. T. Emmert, Bela G. Fejer, G. G. Shepard, B. H. Solheim
Average Nighttime F Region Disturbance Neutral Winds Measured By Windi Uars: Initial Results, J. T. Emmert, Bela G. Fejer, G. G. Shepard, B. H. Solheim
Bela G. Fejer
[1] We use low- and mid-latitude wind data from the Wind Imaging Interferometer (WINDII) on board the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) to study the average response of nighttime upper thermospheric winds to geomagnetic activity. We calculate perturbation winds in magnetic coordinates and analyze them as a function of magnetic local time, latitude, geomagnetic activity, and solar EUV flux. The nighttime zonal disturbance winds are predominately westward, with the strongest effects extending from dusk at 70° to midnight at 45°. Westward disturbance winds are also observed throughout most of the night at low latitudes, where they change to eastward at …
Climatology Of Mid- And Low-Latitude F Region Disturbance Winds Measured By Windii, J. T. Emmert, Bela G. Fejer, C. G. Fesen, G. G. Shepherd, B. H. Solheim
Climatology Of Mid- And Low-Latitude F Region Disturbance Winds Measured By Windii, J. T. Emmert, Bela G. Fejer, C. G. Fesen, G. G. Shepherd, B. H. Solheim
Bela G. Fejer
No abstract provided.
The Lunar Tide In The Equatorial F Region Vertical Ion Drift Velocity, R. J. Stening, Bela G. Fejer
The Lunar Tide In The Equatorial F Region Vertical Ion Drift Velocity, R. J. Stening, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
Vertical ion drift velocity data from Jicamarca have been analyzed for a lunar semidiurnal tide using a least squares fitting method. Amplitudes of up to 6 m s−1 are obtained with phases in agreement with lunar tidal determinations of other associated physical parameters. Variations between season, solar activity, and day to night are also examined. Generally, amplitudes are larger in the southern summer. Much of the phase variation with season is very similar for solar maximum and minimum years. There is a summer to winter phase change that is most distinct at solar maximum nighttime. A day-to-night phase reversal can …
Radar And Satellite Global Equatorial F-Region Vertical Drift Model, L. Scherliess, Bela G. Fejer
Radar And Satellite Global Equatorial F-Region Vertical Drift Model, L. Scherliess, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
We present the first global empirical model for the quiet time F region equatorial vertical drifts based on combined incoherent scatter radar observations at Jicamarca and Ion Drift Meter observations on board the Atmospheric Explorer E satellite. This analytical model, based on products of cubic-B splines and with nearly conservative electric fields, describes the diurnal and seasonal variations of the equatorial vertical drifts for a continuous range of all longitudes and solar flux values. Our results indicate that during solar minimum, the evening prereversal velocity enhancement exhibits only small longitudinal variations during equinox with amplitudes of about 15–20 m/s, is …
Possible Evidence Of Gravity Wave Coupling Into The Mid-Latitude F Region Ionosphere During The Seek Campaign, Michael J. Taylor, J. M. Jahn, S. Fukao, A. Saito
Possible Evidence Of Gravity Wave Coupling Into The Mid-Latitude F Region Ionosphere During The Seek Campaign, Michael J. Taylor, J. M. Jahn, S. Fukao, A. Saito
All Physics Faculty Publications
On five of eight observation nights during the 1996 SEEK (Sporadic E Experiment over Kyushu) campaign, Japan, unusual “wave‐like” structures were imaged in the 630 nm thermospheric nightglow emission. Four of these events were observed to travel towards the southwest, providing new evidence in support of recent theories describing the coupling of medium‐scale gravity waves into the mid‐latitude F region ionosphere. Available ionosonde data and the visual characteristics of the wave structures indicate no association with the occurrence of mid‐latitude spread F or F region upwellings. Instead, the data support the novel concept of feedback from the ionosphere into the …
Incoherent Scatter Radar, Ionosonde,And Satellite Measurements Of Equatorial F Region Vertical Plasma Drifts In The Evening Sector, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, L. Scherliess, I. S. Batista
Incoherent Scatter Radar, Ionosonde,And Satellite Measurements Of Equatorial F Region Vertical Plasma Drifts In The Evening Sector, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, L. Scherliess, I. S. Batista
Bela G. Fejer
Studies of equatorial F region evening vertical plasma drifts using different measurement techniques have produced conflicting results. We examine the relationship of incoherent scatter radar and ionosonde drift observations over the Peruvian equatorial region, and AE-E satellite drifts for different geophysical conditions. Our data show that there is large day-to-day variability on the ratios of radar and ionosonde drifts, but on the average the measurements from these two techniques are in fair agreement during low and moderate solar flux conditions. For high solar activity, however, the Jicamarca evening drifts during equinox and December solstice are significantly larger than the ionosonde …
Comparison Between Calculatedand Observed F-Region Density Profiles At Jicamarca, Peru, A. J. Preble, D. N. Anderson, Bela G. Fejer, P. H. Doherty
Comparison Between Calculatedand Observed F-Region Density Profiles At Jicamarca, Peru, A. J. Preble, D. N. Anderson, Bela G. Fejer, P. H. Doherty
Bela G. Fejer
Electron density profiles and isodensity contours derived from Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar observations in Peru for October 1–2, 1970, are compared in detail with results from the Phillips Laboratory global theoretical ionospheric model. This model solves the ion continuity equation for O+ concentration through production, loss, and transport of ionization. The primary factor controlling the peak plasma density at Jicamarca is the vertical E×B drift, which drives the ionization upward during the day and downward at night. When we use the measured drift in the model, we achieve excellent results with the measured electron density profiles. We illustrate the sensitivity …
Solar Cycle And Seasonal Variationsin F Region Electrodynamics At Millstone Hill, M. J. Buonsanto, M. E. Hagan, J. E. Salah, Bela G. Fejer
Solar Cycle And Seasonal Variationsin F Region Electrodynamics At Millstone Hill, M. J. Buonsanto, M. E. Hagan, J. E. Salah, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
Incoherent scatter radar observations of ion drifts taken at Millstone Hill (42.6°N, 288.5°E) during 73 experiments in the period February 1984 to February 1992 are used to construct, for the first time at this station, average quiet-time E×B drift patterns for both solar cycle maximum and minimum, for the summer, winter, and equinox seasons. The daily variation of V⊥N shows a reversal from northward to southward drifts near noon, and a return to northward drifts in the premidnight hours. The weaker southward drift in the afternoon in summer noted by Wand and Evans (1981) is shown to occur only at …
F-Region Plasma Drifts Over Arecibo: Solar Cycle, Seasonal And Magnetic Activityeffects, Bela G. Fejer
F-Region Plasma Drifts Over Arecibo: Solar Cycle, Seasonal And Magnetic Activityeffects, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
We have used Arecibo incoherent scatter measurements from 1981 to 1990 to determine the characteristics of low-latitude F region plasma drifts. The measurements show large day-to-day variability even during magnetically quiet periods. The average poleward/perpendicular plasma drifts do not change significantly with season and solar cycle except in the midnight-morning sector. The zonal drifts show clear solar cycle and seasonal effects. The afternoon-nighttime eastward drifts increase with solar flux; the westward drifts in the early morning-afternoon sector show a large increase from summer to winter but are independent of solar activity. The two perpendicular velocity components also respond differently to …
Average Vertical And Zonal F-Region Plasma Drifts Over Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, S. Gonzalez, R. F. Woodman
Average Vertical And Zonal F-Region Plasma Drifts Over Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, S. Gonzalez, R. F. Woodman
Bela G. Fejer
The seasonal averages of the equatorial F region vertical and zonal plasma drifts are determined using extensive incoherent scatter radar observations from Jicamarca during 1968–1988. The late afternoon and nighttime vertical and zonal drifts are strongly dependent on the 10.7-cm solar flux. We show that the evening prereversal enhancement of vertical drifts increases linearly with solar flux during equinox but tends to saturate for large fluxes during southern hemisphere winter. We examine in detail, for the first time, the seasonal variation of the zonal plasma drifts and their dependence on solar flux and magnetic activity. The seasonal effects on the …
Equatorial F-Regionvertical Plasma Drifts During Solar Maxima, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, I. S. Batista, E. Bonelli, R. F. Woodman
Equatorial F-Regionvertical Plasma Drifts During Solar Maxima, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, I. S. Batista, E. Bonelli, R. F. Woodman
Bela G. Fejer
Incoherent scatter radar measurements at Jicamarca are used to study the effects of large solar fluxes and magnetic activity on the F region vertical plasma drifts. The average drifts from the two last solar maxima are almost identical except in the late afternoon-early evening sector where their variations with solar flux and magnetic activity are strongly season dependent. The average evening winter (May-August) drifts appear to remain almost constant after a certain solar flux level is reached but increase with magnetic activity. The equinoctial evening drifts increase systematically with solar-flux but decrease with magnetic activity. Very large prereversal enhancement velocities, …
Global Scale, Physical Models Of The F Region Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka
Global Scale, Physical Models Of The F Region Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka
All Physics Faculty Publications
During the last decade, ionospheric F region modeling has reached an accurate climatological level. We now have global computer models of the F region which simulate the interactions between physical processes in the ionosphere. Because of their complexity, these climatological models are confined to modern day supercomputers. This review focuses on the development and verification of these physical ionospheric models. Such models are distinct from local models, steady state models, and empirical models of the ionosphere, which are, by their conception, unable to represent physically the range of F region variability or storm dynamics. This review examines the limitations of …
A Model Study Of How Electric Field Structures Affect The Polar Cap F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Model Study Of How Electric Field Structures Affect The Polar Cap F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
A three-dimensional time-dependent ionospheric model was used to study how electric field structures affect the polar F region. The electric field structures are represented by elongated Volland two-cell models whose dimensions range from tens to 1000 km. These model structures are intended to represent the polar cap electric field for IMF Bz northward conditions. A statistical method is used to generate a set of these structures. Their electric field strength and polarity are varied in order to study the F region’s dependence on this magnetospheric input. For electric field structures whose size and electric field strengths are consistent with …
On The Height Variation Of The Equatorial F-Region Vertical Plasmadrifts, J. E. Pingree, Bela G. Fejer
On The Height Variation Of The Equatorial F-Region Vertical Plasmadrifts, J. E. Pingree, Bela G. Fejer
Bela G. Fejer
We have used improved incoherent scatter radar measurements at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory to study the height variation of the F region vertical plasma drift velocity (driven by the zonal electric field) during moderately quiet conditions. Preliminary results indicate a nearly linear change of the vertical drift velocity with altitude between 200 and 700 km, but with considerable day-to-day variations in the value of the slope. On the average, the velocity gradients are positive in the late night and morning periods and negative during the afternoon and evening hours. Simultaneous vertical and zonal drift measurements confirm that the measured height …
Gigahertz Scintillations And Spaced Receiver Drift Measurements During Project Condorequatorial F-Region Rocket Campaign In Peru, S. Basu, Sa. Basu, J. Labelle, E. Kudeki, Bela G. Fejer, M. C. Kelley, H. E. Whitney
Gigahertz Scintillations And Spaced Receiver Drift Measurements During Project Condorequatorial F-Region Rocket Campaign In Peru, S. Basu, Sa. Basu, J. Labelle, E. Kudeki, Bela G. Fejer, M. C. Kelley, H. E. Whitney
Bela G. Fejer
Radar backscatter at 50 MHz, rocket, and VHF/GHz scintillation measurements of spread F irregularities at the magnetic equator in Peru were made during the Project Condor campaign in March 1983. The paper discusses the coordinated set of observations on two evenings, March 1 and March 14, 1983, when the altitude of the F region peak differed by more than 150 km. The full complement of equatorial spread F phenomena, namely, the occurrence of 3-m plume structures and VHF/GHz scintillations, were recorded on both these evenings. It was found that the radar backscatter with extended plumes occurs in association with maximum …
Equatorial F-Region Zonal Plasma Drifts, Bela G. Fejer, E. Kudeki, D. T. Farley
Equatorial F-Region Zonal Plasma Drifts, Bela G. Fejer, E. Kudeki, D. T. Farley
Bela G. Fejer
We have examined in detail the F region plasma drifts measured at Jicamarca, Peru, during 1978–1981, a period of high solar activity, and compared these drifts with Jicamarca data taken during periods of lower activity, as well as with other equatorial zonal neutral wind and plasma drift measurements. The increase in solar activity causes larger nighttime eastward plasma drifts at Jicamarca and delays the morning reversal time from eastward nighttime to westward daytime drifts. The radar data seem to be in good agreement with nighttime neutral wind measurements made by the DE-2 satellite, but are systematically smaller than spaced receiver …
Theoretical Study Of Anomalously High F Region Peak Altitudes In The Polar Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
Theoretical Study Of Anomalously High F Region Peak Altitudes In The Polar Ionosphere, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
During the last solar maximum period several observations of anomalously high F region peak altitudes have been made by the high latitude incoherent scatter radars. The observations indicate that there are several distinctive features associated with these high hmF2 ionospheric profiles: (1) they are observed near midnight with the plasma flowing out of the polar cap, (2) NmF2 ranges from 105 to 106 cm−3, (3) hmF2 ranges from 400 to 500 km, (4) below 300 km the profile is devoid of ionization, and (5) the observations are for solar maximum conditions. …
A Theoretical F Region Study Of Ion Compositional And Temperature Variations In Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Theoretical F Region Study Of Ion Compositional And Temperature Variations In Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
The response of the polar ionosphere to magnetospheric storm inputs was modeled. During the “storm,” the spatial extent of the auroral oval, the intensity of the precipitating auroral electron energy flux, and the plasma convection pattern were varied with time. The convection pattern changed from a symmetric two-cell pattern with a 20-kV cross-tail potential to an asymmetric two-cell pattern with enhanced plasma flow in the dusk sector and a total cross-tail potential of 90 kV. During the storm there were significant changes in the ion temperature, ion composition, and molecular/atomic ion transition height. The storm time asymmetric convection pattern produced …
A Theoretical Study Of The High Latitude F Region’S Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
A Theoretical Study Of The High Latitude F Region’S Response To Magnetospheric Storm Inputs, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
The response of the polar ionosphere to magnetospheric storm inputs was modeled. During the storm the two major processes that couple the F region to the magnetosphere, namely the electric field distribution and the particle precipitation from the magnetosphere, undergo drastic modification on relatively short F region time scales. These time-dependent changes are not simply related to the F region storm time dependent changes. The lower F region responds on a time scale of only minutes to the storm associated changes in the auroral precipitating electron flux, owing to the dominance of chemistry production-loss mechanisms over transport processes. At higher …
Ion Temperature Variations In The Daytime High-Latitude F Region, Robert W. Schunk, Jan Josef Sojka
Ion Temperature Variations In The Daytime High-Latitude F Region, Robert W. Schunk, Jan Josef Sojka
All Physics Faculty Publications
We improved our high-latitude ionospheric model by including thermal conduction and diffusion-thermal heat flow terms in the ion energy equation so that we could study the ion temperature variations in the daytime high-latitude F layer in a region poleward of the auroral oval for steady state conditions at local noon. From our study we found that (1) The variation of Ti with solar cycle, season, and geomagnetic activity closely follows the Tn variation. The general trend is for higher temperatures in summer than in winter, at solar maximum than at solar minimum, and for active magnetic conditions than for quiet …
Seasonal Variations Of The High-Latitude F Region For Strong Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk, W. John Raitt
Seasonal Variations Of The High-Latitude F Region For Strong Convection, Jan Josef Sojka, Robert W. Schunk, W. John Raitt
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We combined a plasma convection model with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model in order to study the seasonal variations of the high-latitude F region for strong convection. Our numerical study produced time-dependent, three-dimensional, ion density distributions for the ions NO+, O2 +, N2 +, O+, N+, and He+. We covered the high-latitude ionosphere above 42°N magnetic latitude and at altitudes between 160 and 800 km for a time period of one complete day. From our study we found the following: (1) For strong convection, the high-latitude ionosphere exhibits a significant UT variation both during winter and summer. (2) In general, the …
Observations Of The Diurnal Dependence Of The High-Latitude F Region Ion Density By Dmsp Satellites, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk, F. J. Rich, R. C. Sagalyn
Observations Of The Diurnal Dependence Of The High-Latitude F Region Ion Density By Dmsp Satellites, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk, F. J. Rich, R. C. Sagalyn
All Physics Faculty Publications
Data from the DMSP F2 and F4 satellites for the period December 5-10, 1979, have been used to study the diurnal dependence of the high-latitude ion density at 800-km altitude. A 24-hour periodicity in the minimum orbital density (MOD) during a crossing of the high-latitude region is observed in both the winter and summer hemispheres. The phase of the variation in MOD is such that it has a minimum during the 24-hour period between 0700 and 0900 UT. Both the long term variation of the high-latitude ion density on a time scale of days, and the orbit by orbit variations …
Interferometer Studies Of Equatorial Fregion Irregularities And Drifts, E. Kudeki, Bela G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, H. M. Ierkic
Interferometer Studies Of Equatorial Fregion Irregularities And Drifts, E. Kudeki, Bela G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, H. M. Ierkic
Bela G. Fejer
A radar interferometer technique developed at Jicamarca, Peru and first used to study electrojet irregularities has now been used successfully to study plasma turbulence in the equatorial F region. Our first results have shown that the most ‘turbulent’ echoes appear to come from a region that extends for tens of kilometers in altitude but for only a kilometer or less in the east-west direction. This slab may very well be the wall of a depleted region, a plasma ‘bubble’. Sometimes the irregularities can be tracked as they move eastward or westward. Velocity profiles for the evening period obtained in this …
F-Region East-Westdrifts At Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, C. A. Gonzales, R. F. Woodman, C. Calderson
F-Region East-Westdrifts At Jicamarca, Bela G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, C. A. Gonzales, R. F. Woodman, C. Calderson
Bela G. Fejer
F region east-west drifts have been measured at Jicamarca for almost 10 years, using incoherent scatter. The drifts are westward during the day and eastward at night. The daytime drift velocities are about 50 m/s and change very little with season or solar cycle. The evening reversal occurs at about 1600 local time throughout the solar cycle. The maximum nighttime eastward drifts are about 105 and 130 m/s during solar minimum and maximum, respectively. The daytime and nighttime drifts show very litle variation with magnetic activity. These Jicamarca incoherent scatter results (especially the reversal times) differ appreciably from results obtained …
Plasma Density Features Associated With Strong Convection In The Winter High-Latitude F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk
Plasma Density Features Associated With Strong Convection In The Winter High-Latitude F Region, Jan Josef Sojka, W. John Raitt, Robert W. Schunk
All Physics Faculty Publications
We combined a simple plasma convection model with an ionospheric-atmospheric composition model in order to study the plasma density features associated with strong convection in the winter high-latitude F region. Our numerical study produced time-dependent, three-dimensional, ion density distributions for the ions NO+, O2 +, N2 +, O+, N+, and He+. We covered the high-latitude ionosphere above 42° N magnetic latitude and at altitudes between 160 and 800 km for a time period of one complete day. From our study, we found the following: (1) For strong convection, the electron density exhibits a significant variation with altitude, latitude, longitude, and …