All Physics Faculty Publications

Three-dimensional nonlinear evolution ofequatorial ionospheric spread-F bubbles

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.

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

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