HR: 11:45h
AN: SA22A-06 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Midlatitude plasma irregularities with finite parallel wavenumbers
AU: * Hysell, D L
EM: dlh37@cornell.edu
AF: Earth and Atmospheric Science Cornell University, 2108 Snee Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
AU: Larsen, M F
EM: mlarsen@clemson.edu
AF: Physics and Astronomy Clemson University, 203 Kinard Lab, Clemson, SC 29634, United States
AB: Radar experiments performed in the Caribbean in the summer of 2002 strongly indicated a role for neutral turbulence in the generation of E region postsunset plasma irregularities and associated quasiperiodic (QP) echoes. However, intermediate-scale plasma irregularities were most likely necessary to pump the meter-scale irregularities which give rise to coherent radar scatter. A number of investigations point to the presence of kilometer-scale plasma waves in irregular sporadic E layers. A robust plasma instability that could be responsible for kilometric irregularities has been identified. The most unstable waves in the E region are those with 1) kilometric transverse scale sizes and 2) finite parallel wavenumbers. In principle, the same instability could operate in the midlatitude F region, where it would operate on much longer transverse spatial scales. The existence of the (collisional drift) instability and validity of the dispersion relation will be examined in new experiments beginning this summer involving the Arecibo radar, lidar, all-sky camera, and a new coherent scatter radar imager sharing a common volume.
UR: http:landau.geo.cornell.edu
DE: 2439 Ionospheric irregularities
DE: 2443 Midlatitude ionosphere
DE: 2471 Plasma waves and instabilities (2772)
DE: 2494 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly