Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Geophysical Research Letters

Publication Date

1-1-1982

First Page

688

Last Page

691

Abstract

Electric field wave measurements have been performed on two sounding rockets in the equatorial ionosphere. During a daytime flight from Chilca, Peru, intense elecrostatic waves were detected on the upward directec electron density gradient. Duing a nighttime flight from Kwajalein Atoll, similar waves were detected on a downward directed gradien. These results are in agreement with a gradient drift instability explanation of the generation of the waves. The wave amplitudes were as high as 5 mV/m implying pertubation drifts comparable to the driving drift velocities. Power spectra from the turbulent region show a peak at long wavelengths, followed by a nearly flat spectral region before breaking into a power law form with hegative index of 3.6-3.7 for λ

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