HR: 14:45h
AN: SA23B-06    [Abstracts]
TI: An investigation of possible coupling between the passage of a tropical storm and the local ionosphere
AU: * Bishop, R L
EM: Rebecca.L.Bishop@aero.org
AF: The Aerospace Corporation, 2350 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
AU: Aponte, N
EM: naponte@naic.edu
AF: Arecibo Observatory, NAIC, HC03 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612
AU: Livneh, D
EM: dul121@psu.edu
AF: Pennsylvania State University, Communications and Space Sciences 323 A Electrical Engineering East, University Park, PA 16802
AU: Mathews, J
EM: jdmathews@psu.edu
AF: Pennsylvania State University, Communications and Space Sciences 323 A Electrical Engineering East, University Park, PA 16802
AU: Sulzer, M
EM: msulzer@naic.edu
AF: Arecibo Observatory, NAIC, HC03 Box 53995, Arecibo, PR 00612
AU: Earle, G
EM: earle@utdallas.edu
AF: The University of Texas at Dallas, William B. Hanson Center for Space Science MS/FO22 Box 830688, Richardson, TX 75083
AU: Bullett, T
EM: bullett@plh.af.mil
AF: Air Force Resarch Laboratory, VSBI 29 Randolph Road , MA 01731
AU: Straus, P
EM: Paul.Straus@aero.org
AF: The Aerospace Corporation, 2350 E. El Segundo Blvd., El Segundo, CA 90245
AB: Tropical Storm Odette was the first storm since 1887 to form in the Caribbean during the month of December. It formed at approximately 15A N and 73A W on December 4, 2003 and proceeded to travel in a northeasterly direction over the next 4 days before dissipating. During that period, Odette passed within 600 km north of Puerto Rico. Data obtained from the Arecibo Observatory (AO), ionosondes at AO and Ramey, a microbarograph operated by Penn. State University, and limited co-located GPS occultations from the CHAMP satellite provide information on the state of the atmosphere extending from the ground to ionospheric altitudes. Observations made by AO on the nights of December 5-6 and 7-8 show behavior that may be attributable to the tropospheric disturbance. On the night of December 5-6, AO measured the plasma density in the E and F-regions using a vertically directed beam. Significant and continuous altitude modulations of the sporadic-E layer were observed over a seven-hour period. During the day of Dec. 7, Odette made its closest approach to the island. The microbarograph showed significant high frequency fluctuations indicating the generation of gravity waves. The following night AO measured F region plasma densities and drift velocities nearly coincident with the tropical storm track. Large drift velocity variations, ranging from 10 to 80 m/s, are evident in all three plasma drift components over the entire observational period. The zonal drift was atypical with magnitudes significantly greater than that observed at AO during similar magnetic and solar conditions. During the Dec. 7-8 observation period, the Ramey ionosonde showed a range-spreading event also indicative of a disturbed ionosphere. This presentation takes a closer look at the low altitude and ionospheric conditions in order to characterize possible coupling between the two regions.
DE: 2427 Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions (0335)
DE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances
DE: 2437 Ionospheric dynamics
DE: 2443 Midlatitude ionosphere
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly