Skip to main content
Earth, Planets and Space
Earth, Planets and Space Cover Image
Download PDF

Some new features of ionospheric plasma depletions over the Indian zone using all sky optical imaging

Earth, Planets and Space volume 52, pages549–559(2000)Cite this article

Abstract

An all sky optical imaging system was operated from Sriharikota rocket range (SHAR) (14°N, 80°E, 5.5°N dip latitude) during January–March, 1993 to observe ionospheric plasma depletions through 630 nm and 777.4 nm night glow emissions. Strong plasma depletions were observed only on four nights viz., 14, 17, 19 and 21 February, 1993. Except the 17 February, which was a magnetically disturbed day, all the other nights pertained to magnetically quiet period. A number of plasma depletion parameters such as, degree of depletion, east-west extent, tilt with respect to the geomagnetic field, inter-depletion distance, drift velocity and plasma enhancements or brightness patterns were estimated. Some of the important results are: (a) It was found that the east-west extent of plasma depletions varied with the degree of depletion; for the 630 nm images the degree of depletion ranged between 6–9% per 100 km east-west extent and for 777.4 nm images it was 3% per 100 km east-west extent, (b) The average inter-depletion distance (IDD) was in the range of 1500 ± 100 km during the magnetically disturbed period and 740 ± 60 km during quiet periods. This is suggestive of gravity wave modulation of the bottom side of the F-region. While the large scale gravity waves (1500 ± 100 km) of auroral origin could be responsible during magnetically disturbed period, smaller scale gravity waves (740 ± 60 km) having their origin in the lower atmosphere could produce initial perturbation in the bottom side of the F-region, (c) Plasma depletions are observed to have an eastward tilt in the range of 10–15° with respect to the geomagnetic field. It has been suggested here that these tilts are associated with the variation of plasma drift with altitude, (d) plasma depletions are observed to be moving eastwards with drift velocities in the range of 40–190 ms−1, and (e) Strong plasma enhancements or brightness patterns were observed on three nights. The degree of enhancement was by a factor of 1.4–3.8. These enhancements lasted for more than 15 minutes. Although, prima facie, these observations look similar to the transient brightness wave reported by Mendillo et al. (1997a), the high degree of enhancement and an extended duration of more than 15 minutes, observed in the present case, need to be understood.

References

  1. Abdu, M. A., I. J. Kantor, I. S. Batista, and E. R. de Paula, East-west bubble irregularity motion determined from spaced VHF polarimeters: Implications on velocity shear in the zonal F-region bulk plasma motion, Radio Sci., 20, 111–122, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Aggson, T. L., W. J. Burke, N. C. Maynard, W. B. Hanson, W. R. Hogey, and J. L. Saba, Electric field observations of equatorial depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 97, 2997–3009, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Anderson, D. N. and M. Mendillo, Ionospheric conditions affecting the evolution of equatorial plasma depletions, Geophys. Res. Lett., 10, 541–544, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Benson, R. F. and H. C. Brinton, Ionospheric plasma bubble encounters or F region bottomside traversals, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 6243–6252, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bittencourt, J. A., Y. Sahai, P. R. Faundes, and H. Takahashi, Simultaneous observations of equatorial F-region plasma depletions and thermospheric winds, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 59(9), 1049–1059, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Buchau, J., E. J. Weber, and J. P. McClure, Radio and optical diagnostics applied to an isolated equatorial scintillation event, in Effect of the Ionosphere Space and Terrestrial Systems, edited by J. M. Goodman, p. 115, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fagundes, P. R., Y. Sahai, I. S. Batista, M. A. Abdu, J. A. Bittencourt, and H. Takahashi, Vertical and zonal equatorial F-region plasma bubble velocities determined from OI 630 nm nightglow imaging, Adv. Space Res., 20(6), 1297–1300, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Fagundes, P. R., Y. Sahai, I. S. Batista, M. A. Abdu, J. A. Bittencourt, and H. Takahashi, Observations of day-to-day variability in precursor signatures to equatorial F-region plasma depletions, Ann. Geophys., 17, 1053–1063, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fejer, B. G., Low latitude electrodynamic plasma drifts, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 53, 677–693, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Haerendal, G., Investigation of the equatorial F-region with barium clouds: a review, paper presented at the 6th International Symposium on Equatorial Aeronomy, Sponsored by COSPAR, URSI, IUGG, and IAGA, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, July 1980.

  11. Hanson, W. B. and D. K. Bamgboye, The measured motions inside equatorial plasma depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 89, 8997–9008, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hanson, W. B. and S. Sanatani, Large Ni gradients below the equatorial F peak, J. Geophys. Res., 78, 1167–1173, 1973.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hanson, W. B., W. R. Coley, R. A. Heelis, and A. L. Urquhart, Fast equatorial bubbles, J. Geophys. Res., 102, 2039–2045, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hays, P. B., D. W. Rusch, R. G. Roble, and J. C. G. Walker, The OI (6300 Å) airglow), Rev. of Geophys. and Space Phys., 16, 225–232, 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Hysell, D. L., M. C. Kelley, W. E. Swartz, and R. F. Woodman, Seeding and layering of Equatorial spread F by gravity waves, J. Geophys. Res., 95, 17253–17260, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Jahn, J.-M., J. LaBelle, J. H. A. Sobral, T. L. Aggson, and W. B. Hanson, Detection of an equatorial spread-F bubble by ground based photometers and the San Marco 5 satellite, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 59, 1601–1609, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Kelley, M. C., G. Haerendal, H. Kappler, A. Valenzuela, B. B. Balsley, D. A. Carter, W. L. Ecklund, C. W. Carlson, B. Hausler, and R. Torbert, Evidence for a Rayleigh-Taylor type instability and upwelling of depleted density regions during equatorial spread F, Geophys. Res. Lett., 3, 448–450, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Kelley, M. C., M. F. Larson, C. LaHoz, and J. P. McClure, Gravity wave initiation of equatorial spread F: A case study, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 9087–9100, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Kelley, M. C., J. LaBelle, E. Kudeki, B. G. Fejer, S. Basu, Su. Basu, K. D. Baker, C. Hanuise, P. Argo, R. F. Woodman, W. E. Swartz, D. T. Farley, and J. Meriwether, The Condor equatorial spread F campaign: Overview and results of the large scale measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 91, 5487–5503, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Koparkar, P. V. and R. G. Rastogi, VHF radio scintillations at Bombay, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 47, 907–910, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Kudeki, E., B. G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, and H. M. Lerkic, Interferometer studies of equatorial F region irregularities and drifts, Geophys. Res. Lett., 8, 377–380, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. McClure, J. P., W. B. Hanson, and J. F. Hoffman, Plasma depletions and irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 82, 2650–2656, 1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Mendillo, M. and J. Baumgardner, Airglow characteristics of equatorial plasma depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 7641–7652, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Mendillo, M. and A. Tyler, Geometry of depleted plasma regions in the equatorial ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 88(A7), 5778–5782, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Mendillo, M., J. Baumgardner, M. Colerico, and D. Nottingham, Imaging science contributions to equatorial aeronomy: initial results from the MISETA program, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 59, 1587–1599, 1997a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Mendillo, M., J. Baumgardner, D. Nottingham, J. Aarons, B. Renisch, J. Scali, and M. Kelley, Investigations of thermospheric-ionospheric dynamics with 6300 Å images from the Arecibo observatory, J. Geophys. Res., 102(A4), 7331–7343, 1997b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mukherjee, G. K., L. Carlo, and P. T. Patil, First all sky imaging observations from India, South Pacific STEP Workshop, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, July 5–9, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Nottingham, D., M. Mendillo, J. Baumgardner, and M. Kelley, 6300 Å airglow wave structure from Arecibo in January 1993, EOS, 488, 1994.

  29. Raghavarao, R., S. P. Gupta, R. Sekar, R. Narayanan, J. N. Desai, R. Sridharan, V. V. Babu, and V. Sudhakar, In situ measurements of wind, electric fields and electron densities at the onset of equatorial spread F, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 49, 485–492, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Rohrbaugh, R. P., W. B. Hanson, B. A. Tinsley, B. L. Cragin, and J. P. McClure, Images of transequatorial depletions based on field-aligned airglow observations from Haleakala in 1984–1986, J. Geophys. Res., 94, 6763–6770, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Sahai, Y., J. Aarons, M. Mendillo, J. Baumgardner, J. A. Bittencourt, and H. Takahashi, OI 630 nm imaging observations of equatorial plasma depletions at 16° dip latitude, J. Atmos. Terr. Phys., 56, 1461–1475, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Singh, S., F. S. Johnson, and R. A. Power, Gravity wave initiation of equatorial plasma depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 102(A4), 7399–7410, 1997a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Singh, S., D. K. Bamgboye, J. P. McClure, and F. S. Johnson, Morphology of equatorial plasma depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 102(A9), 20,019–20,029, 1997b.

  34. Sinha, H. S. S., H. Chandra, R. N. Misra, and S. Prakash, Optical imaging of plasma depletions associated with equatorial spread-F, XX General Assembly, IUGG, Vienna, pp. 248, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Sinha, H. S. S., R. N. Misra, H. Chandra, S. Raizada, N. Dutt, and G. D. Vyas, Multi-Wavelength optical imaging of ionospheric plasma depletions, Ind. J. Rad. and Space Phys., 25, 44–52, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Sobral, J. H. A., G. L. Borba, M. A. Abdu, I. S. Batista, H. Sawant, C. J. Zamlutti, H. Takahashi, and Y. Nakamura, Post-sunset wintertime 630.0 nm airglow perturbations associated with gravity waves at low latitudes in the South American sector, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 59, 1611–1623, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Sridharan, R., H. Chandra, S. R. Das, R. Sekar, H. S. S. Sinha, D. P. Raju, R. Narayanan, S. Raizada, R. N. Misra, R. Raghavarao, P. B. Rao, P. V. S. Ramarao, V. V. Somayajulu, V. V. Babu, and A. D. Danilov, Ionization hole campaign—a co-ordinated rocket and ground based study at the onset of equatorial spread-F: First results, J. Atmos. Sol. Terr. Phys., 59, 2051–2067, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Szuszczewicz, E. P., R. T. Tsunoda, R. Narcisi, and J. C. Holmes, Coincident radar and rocket observations of equatorial spread F, Geophys. Res. Lett., 7, 537–540, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Taylor, M. J., J. V. Eccles, J. LaBelle, and J. H. A. Sobral, High resolution OI (630 nm) image measurements of F-region depletion drifts during the Guará campaign, Geophys. Res. Lett., 24(13), 1699–1702, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Tinsley, B. A., R. P. Rohrbaugh, and W. B. Hanson, Images of transequatorial F region depletions in 630- and 777-nm emissions compared with satellite measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 102(A2), 2057–2077, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Tsunoda, R. T., On the spatial relationship of 1-m equatorial spread F irregularities and plasma depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 85, 185–190, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Tsunoda, R. T., On the generation and growth of equatorial backscatter plume 2. structuring of the west walls of upwelling, J. Geophys. Res., 88, 4869–4874, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Tsunoda, R. T. and D. M. Towle, On the spatial relationship of 1 m equatorial spread F irregularities and depletions in total electron content, Geophys. Res. Lett., 6(11), 873–876, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Tsunoda, R. T. and B. R. White, On the generation and growth of equatorial backscatter plumes, 1, Wave structure in the bottom side F layer, J. Geophys. Res., 86, 3610–3616, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Tsunoda, R. T., R. C. Livingston, and C. L. Rino, Evidence of a velocity shear in bulk plasma motion associated with the post-sunset rise of the equatorial Flayer, Geophys. Res. Lett., 8(7), 807–810, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. J. P. McClure, and W. B. Hanson, Equatorial plasma depletions: vertically elongated wedges from the bottomside F layer, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 9171–9180, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Weber, E. J., J. Buchau, R. H. Eather, and S. B. Mende, North-south aligned equatorial airglow depletions, J. Geophys. Res., 83, 712–716, 1978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Weber, E. J., J. Buchau, and J. G. Moore, Airborne studies of equatorial F layer Ionospheric irregularities, J. Geophys. Res., 85(A9), 4631–4641, 1980.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Weil, G. and J. Joseph, Premiers measures du triplet 35S0-35P de OI, á 7772, 7774, et 7775 Å emis par le nocturne des régions tropicales, C. R. Acd. Sci., Ser. B, 271, 1013–1016, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Woodman, R. F. and C. LaHoz, Radar observations of F region equatorial irregularities, J. Geophys. Res., 81, 5447–5466, 1976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Zalesak, S. T., S. L. Ossakow, and P. K. Chaturvedi, Nonlinear Equatorial spread F: The effects of neutral winds and background Pedersen conductivity, J. Geophys. Res., 87, 151–166, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Physical Research Laboratory Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, 380 009, India

    H. S. S. Sinha & S. Raizada

Authors
  1. H. S. S. Sinha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Raizada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. S. S. Sinha.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sinha, H.S.S., Raizada, S. Some new features of ionospheric plasma depletions over the Indian zone using all sky optical imaging. Earth Planet Sp 52, 549–559 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03351662

Download citation

Keywords

  • Gravity Wave
  • Total Electron Content
  • Plasma Drift
  • INDIAN Zone
  • Equatorial Spread