On the Conjugacy of Two Types of Wavelike Structures in the Low-Latitude Bottomside F layer

Abstract:

Wavelike structures are often observed in the bottomside of the low-latitude F layer. Whether they are mirrored in the opposite hemisphere, following along geomagnetic field (B) lines, or not, remains an open question. We consider the issue of conjugacy in terms of electrical coupling, and two types of wavelike structures, those produced by plasma transport along B lines (via ion drag), and those produced by plasma transport transverse to B lines (via a polarization electric field). The presence or absence of conjugate plasma structures was investigated by analyzing total electron content (TEC) variations measured with a ground cluster of radio beacon receivers. Polar-orbiting beacon satellites (Cosmos series) and an equatorial-orbiting (Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System, or C/NOFS) beacon satellite were used. We present examples of conjugate and non-conjugate plasma structures, which are consistent with the notion that a polarization electric field develops, which then maps along B lines to the conjugate hemisphere.