Possible stimulation of equatorial plasma bubbles by H2O injection

A negative‐ion, positive‐ion plasma produced by the release of an electron attachment chemical into the F region becomes electrically polarized by the collisions with neutrals moving across magnetic field lines. The resulting electric field causes E × B drift of the two ion species and the residual electrons. The cross‐field flow of the modified ionosphere is computed using a two‐dimensional numerical simulation which includes electron attachment and mutual neutralization chemistry, self‐consistent electric fields, and three‐species plasma transport. The velocity of the plasma is initially in the direction of the neutral wind because the negative‐ion cloud is a Pedersen conductivity enhancement. As the positive and negative ions react, the Pedersen conductivity becomes depressed below the ambient value and the velocity of the plasma reverses direction. A plasma hole remains after the positive and negative ions have mutually neutralized. The E × B gradient drift instability produces irregularities on the upwind edge of the hole. These processes may be observed experimentally with optical and backscatter‐radar diagnostics.

10.1029/ja093ia08p08696

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Citations (21)

The nonlinear regime of a groove instability in the F-layer of the equatorial ionosphere

Radiofizika (1986)

A. Ia. Feldshtein

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Citations (0)

Drift-dissipative plasma instability and equatorial spreadF

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (1969)

D. M. Cunnold

Electrostatic drift-dissipative plasma instability and nocturnal equatorial spread F irregularities, discussing amplification in collision dominated medium

10.1029/ja074i024p05709

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Citations (33)

Equatorial plasma bubbles: Vertically elongated wedges from the bottomside F layer

Unknown eBooks (1981)

Roland T. Tsunoda R. C. Livingston

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Citations (11)

Plasma bubbles near the dawn terminator in the topside ionosphere

Planetary and Space Science (1979)

William I. Burke

Sunrise

Rayleigh–Taylor instability

Terminator (solar)

10.1016/0032-0633(79)90138-7

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Citations (42)

Equatorial bubbles updrafting at supersonic speeds

Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (1992)

T. L. Aggson W. J. Burke N. C. Maynard W. B. Hanson Philip C. Anderson

We present plasma and electric field observations from two satellite encounters with equatorial plasma bubbles updrafting at velocities of ∼2 km/s. These large, upward velocities are consistent with an adaptation of Chandrasekhar's model for the motion of plasma blobs supported against gravity by a magnetic field; that is, V z ≈ − g . Vector magnetic field measurements, available during one of the bubble encounters show a perturbation of ∼150 nT, directed radially outward from the Earth, near the western wall of deepest plasma depletion. This magnetic variation is too large to be caused by simple shunting of the g × B current along the bubble's edge. Rather, it is Alfvénic in nature, radiating from a generator located near the magnetic equator, in the plasma outside the bubble's leading edge. A heuristic model of a depleted flux tube with constant circular cross section moving upward through a background plasma predicts most of the measurements' qualitative features.

Flux tube

10.1029/92ja00644

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Citations (69)