HR: 16:50h
AN: SA24A-03 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Multi-Instrument Studies of the Magnetic Conjugate Nature of F-region Structure
AU: * Makela, J J
EM: jmakela@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1308 W. Main St, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
AU: Miller, E S
EM: esmiller@uiuc.edu
AF: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 1308 W. Main St, Urbana, IL 61801, United States
AU: Chau, J L
EM: jchau@jro.igp.gob.pe
AF: Radio Observatorio de Jicamarca, Instituto Geofisico del Peru, Lima, Peru
AU: Tsunoda, R T
EM: tsunoda@sri.com
AF: SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave, Meno Park, CA 90900, United States
AU: Kelley, M C
EM: mikek@ece.cornell.edu
AF: Cornell University School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 320 Rhodes Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
AU: Syndergaard, S
EM: ssy@ucar.edu
AF: UCAR COSMIC Project Office, 3300 Mitchell Lane, Boulder, CO 80301, United States
AU: Ledvina, B M
EM: ledvina@vt.edu
AF: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 302 Whittemore, Blacksburg, VA 24061, United States
AB: By combining data from multiple types of instrumentation collected at different locations, we can come to a better understanding of the physics and properties of structures in the low-latitude ionosphere and their effects on trans-ionospheric radio wave propagation. In this study, we present examples of spread-F events collected from both the Pacific (Hawaii/Christmas Island) and South American (Chile/Peru) sectors using optical imaging systems and coherent backscatter radar in addition to both ground- and space-based GPS receivers. The optical data provide background information on the location and spatial/temporal dynamics of irregularity-containing depletions over a wide spatial region. In order to put the observations made with the other instrumentation at different locations into a broader context, we map the structure observed with the optical instrumentation along magnetic field lines. In the case of coincident imaging/radar data, we show that the images aid in interpretation of the spatial characteristics of the structure observed by the narrow radar beam. We also compare velocities measured by the radar and imaging systems to study the conjugate nature of these irregularities in more detail. In the case of coincident imaging/occultation data, we highlight how the imaging data can be used to determine when the spherical symmetry conditions assumed in the occultation inversion breaks down. We will also discuss future experiments that will employ additional instruments to further study the conjugate nature of these irregularity regions.
DE: 2415 Equatorial ionosphere
DE: 2439 Ionospheric irregularities
DE: 2494 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2007 Joint Assembly