Global bubble distribution seen from ROCSAT‐1 and its association with the evening prereversal enhancement

Abstract

The occurrence statistics of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) obtained from low‐inclination orbit satellites are significantly affected by the way the data are sampled and the way that the EPBs are counted. To resolve the discrepancy between the EPB occurrence frequency determined by ground‐based observations and in situ sampling of plasma density from spacecraft, we have developed a new EPB detection method that minimizes the dependence of the EPB occurrence rate on the data processing method. The global EPB distribution maps are created by analyzing the measurements of the ion density from the first Republic of China satellite (ROCSAT‐1) during March 1999 to June 2004. The EPB occurrence probability obtained using our new EPB detection method is a few times greater than that obtained using the conventional method. Our results are comparable to the ground observations. The good agreement of the global EPB distribution with the global morphology of the evening prereversal enhancement (PRE) of vertical ion velocity supports the notion that the PRE is an important factor on a global scale in the generation of EPBs. However, the generation of EPBs is not guaranteed by the occurrence of an intense PRE. Other mechanisms, in addition to the PRE, should be considered as an explanation for the occurrence of EPBs on the topside.