Ionospheric Irregularities: Source, Structure, Plasma Processes and Effects on Sensor Systems.

摘要

A multi-technique approach has been used at a number of geophysically interesting locations to determine various sources of high-latitude irregularities, their occurrence characteristics and effects on sensor systems. Auroral scintillation morphology and irregularity anisotropy were determined using HiLat satellite data obtained at Tromso. Global scintillation characteristics were determined as a function of the sunspot cycle and a high latitude scintillation review was prepared reflecting our improved understanding of different sources of irregularity generation. A high latitude campaign mounted under the auspices of the CEDAR initiative provided multiple diagnostic studies of the polar cusp, polar cap patches and sun-aligned arcs. Multiple sensor data on the DE-2 satellite have been utilized to isolate two different classes of plasma instabilities responsible for structuring plasma at high latitudes. Finally, an active experiment was performed with the high power HF heater at Tromso, Norway to study the characteristics of the artificially generated irregularities in the daytime sub-auroral ionosphere. (JHD)