HR: 0800h
AN: SA21A-01    [Abstracts]
TI: Formation of a Plasma Depletion Shell in the Equatorial Ionosphere
AU: * Kil, h
EM: hyosub.kil@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723, United States
AU: Paxton, L J
EM: larry.paxton@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD 20723, United States
AU: Heelis, R A
EM: heelis@utdallas.edu
AF: University of Texas at Dallas, P.O. Box 830688, Richardson, MD 75083, United States
AU: Oh, S
EM: oh@spweather.com
AF: Space Environment Laboratory Inc., Non-Hyun Dong, Gang-Nam Gu, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
AB: An accurate description of the irregularity region defined by a plasma bubble is critically important in understanding the dynamics of the region and its effects on radio scintillation. Here we describe a plasma depletion region as a depletion shell' and show how two-dimensional optical images from space can be used to define the shape of the depletion shell. The plasma depletion shell in the evening is produced by the slower eastward drift of plasmas at higher altitudes and higher latitudes with respect to plasmas at lower altitudes and lower latitudes. A backward C-shape in bubble images from space-based optical observations and the westward tilt of bubbles at the magnetic equator are consistent with this shell structure. A detailed description of the plasma depletion shell will enable the space weather community to establish a better predictive capability based on partial or sporadic observations of bubbles from the ground or space.
DE: 2411 Electric fields (2712)
DE: 2415 Equatorial ionosphere
DE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances
DE: 2437 Ionospheric dynamics
SC: SPA: Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2009 Joint Assembly