Medium-scale wave-like irregularities of electron density and electron temperature in the upper ionosphere at subauroral and high latitudes during different phases of the magnetic storm of January 1974

Abstract

Data obtained aboard the INTERCOSMOS-10 satellite during different phases of the geomagnetic storm in the last week of January, 1974, are used for the investigation of medium-scale wave-like irregularities of electron density and electron temperature in the upper ionosphere (altitudes from about 800 to about 1400 km) for high and subauroral latitudes. Daytime and nighttime conditions are analysed in detail. It is shown that independent of local time and of the degree of magnetic disturbance the spectra of medium-scale electron-density and electron-temperature fluctuations reveal equal characteristic wavelengths of l ≈ 130–150, 150–200, 210–240, 250–320, 340–400 km and so on. During nighttime conditions in the region of the main ionospheric trough the fluctuations of electron density (at the equatorward wall of the trough) and of electron temperature at the bottom of the trough) are separated in space. Later on it is shown that the intensity of the fluctuations of electron density and electron temperature at high and subauroral latitudes is dependent on the phase of magnetic storm.