Nonlinear Evolution of Diffuse Auroral F Region Ionospheric Irregularities

摘要

Numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the current convective instability in the diffuse aurora have been performed for conditions typical of the nighttime high latitude F region. Our results show nearly field aligned plasma irregularities developing in regions of well-defined northward gradients of total electron content (TEC) and field-aligned diffuse auroral particle precipitation. In addition, we find equatorward movement of plasma enhancements and northward (poleward) movement of plasma depletions (holes). Furthermore, one-dimensional spatial power spectra of the irregularities in both the north-south and east-west directions are well described by inverse laws. (Author)