Earth's Ionosphere (eBook)

Front Cover 1
The Earth's Ionosphere: Plasma Physics and Electrodynamics 4
Copyright Page 5
Contents 8
Preface 14
Chapter 1 Introductory and Background Material 16
1.1 Scope and Goals of the Text 16
1.2 Structure of the Neutral Atmosphere and the Main Ionosphere 19
1.3 D-Region Fundamentals 25
1.4 The Earth's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere 31
References 40
Chapter 2 Fundamentals of Atmospheric, Ionospheric, and Magnetospheric Plasma Dynamics 42
2.1 The Basic Fluid Equations 42
2.2 Steady-State Ionospheric Plasma Motions Due to Applied Forces 54
2.3 Generation of Electric Fields 62
2.4 Electric Field Mapping 63
2.5 Elements of Magnetospheric Physics 69
2.6 Are Ionospheric Electric Fields Real? 83
2.7 Coordinate Systems 84
References 85
Chapter 3 Dynamics and Electrodynamics of the Equatorial Zone 86
3.1 Motions of the Equatorial F Region: The Database 86
3.2 The Equatorial F-Region Dynamo 91
3.3 E-Region Dynamo Theory and the Daytime Equatorial Electrojet 104
3.4 Further Complexities of Equatorial Electrodynamics 114
3.5 Feedback Between Electrodynamics and Thermospheric Winds 128
3.6 Mesospheric and Lower Thermospheric Dynamics 134
References 140
Chapter 4 Equatorial Plasma Instabilities and Mesospheric Turbulence 146
4.1 F-Region Plasma Instabilities: Observations 146
4.2 Development and Initiation of Convective Equatorial Ionospheric Storms (a.k.a. Equatorial Spread F) 157
4.3 Nonlinear Theories of Convective Ionospheric Storms 175
4.4 Linkage of Large and Small Scales in CEIS 184
4.5 Convective Equatorial Ionospheric Storm Summary 189
4.6 E-Region Plasma Instabilities: The Observational Data Base 190
4.7 Linear Theories of Electrojet Instabilities 202
4.8 Nonlinear Theories of Electrojet Instabilities 215
4.9 D-Region Turbulence 226
4.10 Future Directions 228
References 228
Chapter 5 Hydro- and Electrodynamics of the Midlatitude Ionosphere 236
5.1 Introduction to the Tropical and Midlatitude Ionospheres 236
5.2 Electric Fields in the Tropical and Midlatitude Zone 252
5.3 Midlatitude Lower Thermosphere Dynamics 271
References 279
Chapter 6 Waves and Instabilities at Midlatitudes 282
6.1 Mesoscale Vertical Organization of Ionospheric Plasma: General Considerations 282
6.2 Oscillations of the Neutral Atmosphere 283
6.3 Role of Gravity Waves and Tides in Creating Vertical Ionospheric Structure 294
6.4 Effects of Particle Precipitation at Midlatitudes 301
6.5 Horizontal Structure in the Midlatitude Ionosphere 304
6.6 Midlatitude F-Region Plasma Instabilities 308
6.7 Midlatitude E-Region Instabilities 327
References 351
Chapter 7 Dynamics and Electrodynamics of the Mesosphere 358
7.1 Noctilucent Clouds (NLC) and the Solstice Temperature Anomaly 358
7.2 Gravity Wave Breaking 361
7.3 The Polar Summer Mesosphere: A Wave-Driven Refrigerator 363
7.4 New Observations of NLC and Related Phenomena 365
7.5 Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSE) 368
7.6 The Role of Charged Ice 375
7.7 On the Possible Relationship Between PMSE, NLC, and Atmospheric Change 377
7.8 Upward-Propagating Lightning 378
7.9 Nonlinear Mesospheric Waves 381
References 388
Chapter 8 High-Latitude Electrodynamics 394
8.1 Electrical Coupling Between the Ionosphere, Magnetosphere, and Solar Wind 394
8.2 Observations of Ionospheric Convection 410
8.3 Simple Models of Convection in the Magnetosphere 418
8.4 Empirical and Analytical Representations of High-Latitude Convection 427
8.5 Observations of Field-Aligned Currents 432
8.6 Horizontal Currents at High Latitudes 438
References 444
Chapter 9 Ionospheric Response to Electric Fields 448
9.1 Ionospheric Effects of Parallel Plasma Dynamics 448
9.2 Ionospheric Effects of Perpendicular Plasma Dynamics 455
9.3 Electrodynamic Forcing of the Neutral Atmosphere 466
9.4 Particle Acceleration in the Topside Ionosphere 474
9.5 Summary 480
References 480
Chapter 10 Instabilities and Structure in the High-Latitude Ionosphere 484
10.1 Planetary and Large-Scale Structures in the High-Latitude F Region 484
10.2 Intermediate-Scale Structure in the High-Latitude F Region 505
10.3 Small-Scale Waves in the High-Latitude F Region 525
10.4 E-Region Layering at High Latitudes 530
10.5 Plasma Waves and Irregularities in the High-Latitude E Region: Observations 531
10.6 Linear Auroral Electrojet Wave Theories 541
10.7 Summary 553
References 553
Index 560
International Geophysics Series 572
Color Plate Section 578