Electric field and plasma density observations of large scale (100's of KM) waves below the equatorial F-peak as seeds of spread-F

Abstract

Summary form only given. Electric field and plasma density observations gathered on the C/NOFS satellite are presented in cases where the ionosphere F-peak has been elevated above the satellite perigee of 400 km in the evening. During these passes, data from the electric field and plasma density probes on the satellite frequently show evidence for 400-500km-scale bottomside “undulations” that appear in the density and electric field data. In a few cases, these large scale waves are associated with a strong shear in the zonal E × B flow, as evidenced by variations in the meridional (outward) electric fields observed above and below the F-peak. These undulations are devoid of smaller scale structures in the early evening, yet appear at later local times along the same orbit associated with fully-developed spread-F with smaller scale structures. This suggests that they may be precursor waves for spread-F, possibly driven by a collisional shear instability, following ideas advanced previously by researchers using data from the Jicamarca and Altair radars as well as sounding rockets. We present statistics of numerous examples of these large scale waves detected by instruments on the C/NOFS satellite and discuss their implications for driving subsequent instability processes.