Electric currents in the ionosphere - Ionization drift due to winds and electric fields

Abstract

An analysis is made of the drift velocity of the (neutral) ionization in a uniform ionosphere under the influences of an electric field and/or atmospheric wind. It is shown that this drift of ionization produces the Ampere body force on the medium; the electric current flows perpendicular to the drift. The motion of a cylinder of ionization, of density differing from the surrounding medium, is then studied. It is found that the motion is electrodynamically stable, but unstable hydrodynamically, if Hall conductivity is appreciable. In the latter event there is rapid accretion of (neutral) ionization on one side of the cylinder, depletion on the other. It is suggested that this is the origin of sporadic E ( E 5 )ionization, and is likely to be an important factor in the production of the long-enduring meteor trails detected by radio methods. Formulae are derived for the horizontal and vertical drift of ionization at all latitudes in a thin ionosphere in which vertical electric currents are prohibited by polarization. Graphs are given which permit derivation of the true wind or field in a given region of the ionosphere from experimental observations of the drift velocities.