Multifractality observed in the virtual height layer ionosphere at Jatai (17.2oS, 51.9oW), Brazil

Abstract

A digital ionosonde of the type known as Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) is operational at Jatai (17.2oS,51.9oW), Brazil. This ionospheric sounding station is located under the equatorial ionospheric anomaly crest. The F-layer electron density profile presents considerable day-to-day variability, even during the undisturbed conditions, and is still one of the less understood aspects of the physics of the ionosphere. The propagation of waves into the ionosphere may be playing an important role in this day-to-day ionospheric variability. In this paper we used the multifractal approach in order to understand the physical process underlying to rise to plasma bubbles. Results shown that the ionosphere layer is in out-of equilibrium, independent of the presence or not of the planetary waves (PW), equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) or another ones. Wavelet techniques are also used to investigate the action of these plasma bubbles over the planetary waves.