Three-dimensional nonlinear evolution ofequatorial ionospheric spread-F bubbles

Authors

M. J. Keskinen
S. L. Ossakow
B. G. Fejer, Utah State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Geophysical Research Letters

Volume

30

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Publication Date

2003

First Page

1855

Abstract

Using numerical simulation techniques, we present the first study of the three-dimensional nonlinear evolution of an equatorial spread-F bubble. The background ionosphere used to initialize the bubble evolution is computed using a time-dependent first-principles equatorial plasma fountain model together with a prereversal enhancement vertical drift model. We find that finite parallel conductivity effects slow down both the linear and nonlinear bubble evolution compared to the two-dimensional evolution. In addition we find that bubble-like structures with extremely sharp density gradients can be generated off the equator at equatorial anomaly latitudes in agreement with recent observations.

Recommended Citation

Keskinen, M. J., S. L. Ossakow, and B. G. Fejer, Three-dimensional nonlinear evolution of equatorial ionospheric spread-F bubbles, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1855, doi: 10.1029/2003GL017418, 2003.

https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL017418