Planetary wave oscillations in mesospheric winds, equatorial evening prereversal electric field and spread F

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 33; no. 7; pp. L07107 - n/a
• Main Authors: Abdu, M. A., Batista, P. P., Batista, I. S., Brum, C. G. M., Carrasco, A. J., Reinisch, B. W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Geophysical Union 01.04.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Electric fields; Equatorial ionosphere; Exact sciences and technology; Ionosphere; Ionosphere/atmosphere interactions; Ionospheric dynamics; Ionospheric irregularities; Brazil; South America; Mesosphere; Ionospheric E region; Ionospheric F region; electrical field; conductivity; Plasma drift; meteors; winds; Spread F; Height; ions; Planetary wave; Low latitude; Day to day variation; radar methods; oscillations
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2005GL024837

Analysis of the MLT region winds measured by a meteor radar and the evening F region vertical plasma drift (prereversal zonal electric field ‐PRE) measured by digisondes over low latitude sites in Brazil, provide evidence of planetary wave (PW) scale oscillations of episodic nature simultaneously at mesospheric and F region heights. ∼4‐day and 7‐day periods are found to dominate the event analyzed. The PW scale oscillations in the PRE produces strong modulation in the equatorial spread F (ESF) irregularity processes as diagnosed by the digisondes. Considerations on the PRE development mechanism involving the E layer integrated conductivity including the effect of metallic ions and tidal winds point to the source of the PRE oscillations to be PW modulation of E region tidal winds. The PW oscillations in PRE appear to be an important source of the day‐to‐day variability in the ESF.