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Utah State University

Equator

1985

Articles 1 - 4 of 4

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Equatorial F-Region Zonal Plasma Drifts, Bela G. Fejer, E. Kudeki, D. T. Farley Dec 1985

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 …


Interaction Of The Zonalwinds With The Equatorial Midnight Pressure Bulge In The Earth's Thermosphere: Empiricalevidence Of Momentum Balance, F. A. Herrero, H. G. Mayr, N. W. Spencer, A. E. Hedin, Bela G. Fejer Aug 1985

Interaction Of The Zonalwinds With The Equatorial Midnight Pressure Bulge In The Earth's Thermosphere: Empiricalevidence Of Momentum Balance, F. A. Herrero, H. G. Mayr, N. W. Spencer, A. E. Hedin, Bela G. Fejer

Bela G. Fejer

A minimum is observed at midnight in the time variation of averaged zonal winds measured in-situ near the equator at an average altitude of about 350 km, and we inquire whether observations of the equatorial midnight pressure bulge are consistent with this feature. The observed zonal wind maintains an eastward direction all night. It increases steadily in the early evening reaching a maximum of about 160 m/s at 2100 hrs local time (LT), dropping to a minimum of about 70 m/s around 2400 LT, then up to about 120 m/s around 0300 LT, decreasing thereafter and turning westward in the …


Theory Of Spectral Asymmetries And Nonlinear Currentsin The Equatorial Electrojet, E. Kudeki, D. T. Farley, Bela G. Fejer Jan 1985

Theory Of Spectral Asymmetries And Nonlinear Currentsin The Equatorial Electrojet, E. Kudeki, D. T. Farley, Bela G. Fejer

Bela G. Fejer

The spectral up-down asymmetry of type 1 echoes returned from the equatorial electrojet irregularities is shown to be a consequence of the nonlinear development of the horizontally propagating large scale primary waves which dominate the k spectrum of the electrojet turbulence. The waves reduce the vertical electric polarization field of the electrojet and suffer second harmonic distortion as they grow. These effects together could cause an asymmetry exceeding 20% between the upward and downward components of the relative (to the ions) electron velocity associated with the primary waves. This asymmetry, which changes its direction from day to night as does …


Refilling Of Geosynchronous Flux Tubes As Observed At The Equator By Geos 2, Jan Josef Sojka, G. L. Wrenn Jan 1985

Refilling Of Geosynchronous Flux Tubes As Observed At The Equator By Geos 2, Jan Josef Sojka, G. L. Wrenn

All Physics Faculty Publications

During periods of extended quiet geomagnetic activity the geosynchronous satellite orbit lies inside the plasmasphere. Five such periods were observed by the GEOS 2 satellite. During the initial 48 hours of such periods the equatorial plasma flux tube density increases at 30 to 50 cm−3/day. However, on reaching ∼100 cm−3 the refilling rate decreases, and refilling is limited. Only when the density reaches ∼100 cm−3 do the plasma characteristics and fluctuations appear to be plasmaspheric and the flow predominantly corotational. The “hot outer zone” of the plasmasphere is highly structured in density and temperature when viewed …