HR: 15:25h
AN: SA23B-08    [Abstracts]
TI: Characterization of Ionospheric Plasma Bubbles With the Global Ultraviolet Imager
AU: * Kamalabadi, F
EM: farzadk@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois, 1308 W. Main St., Urbana, IL 61801
AU: Comberiate, J
EM: comberia@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois, 1308 W. Main St., Urbana, IL 61801
AU: Krekeler, J
EM: krekeler@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois, 1308 W. Main St., Urbana, IL 61801
AU: Paxton, L
EM: larry.paxton@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723
AB: Density depletions caused by plasma turbulence in the nighttime equatorial ionosphere referred to as ``Equatorial Spread-F'' (ESF) remain distressingly elusive despite several decades of observation, modeling, and theory. Recent FUV measurements of atomic oxygen recombination at 135.6 nm from the Global Ultraviolet Imager (GUVI) onboard the TIMED satellite provide an unprecedented opportunity to detect and investigate occurrence characteristics of ESF on a global scale. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of GUVI data using an automated bubble detection technique, in conjunction with tomographic image reconstruction methods capturing height-dependent plasma structures. Subsequent statistical analyses are performed to investigate and characterize the role of geomagnetic, solar, and seasonal influences on the triggering and development of equatorial plasma bubbles. Furthermore, we report on the analyses over several years to provide statistical information about the seasonal and longitudinal variations of ESF occurrence. Such long-term global analyses based on UV measurements contribute to the broader goal of understanding bubble formation patterns and consequently to a more accurate characterization of the mechanisms responsible for the generation and evolution of these plasma irregularities.
DE: 6982 Tomography and imaging
DE: 2415 Equatorial ionosphere
DE: 2439 Ionospheric irregularities
DE: 2494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 3260 Inverse theory
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting