Coordinated Groundâ Based and Spaceâ Based Observations of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles
Aa, Ercha; Zou, Shasha; Eastes, Richard; Karan, Deepak K.; Zhang, Shun‐rong; Erickson, Philip J.; Coster, Anthea J.
2020-01
Citation
Aa, Ercha; Zou, Shasha; Eastes, Richard; Karan, Deepak K.; Zhang, Shun‐rong ; Erickson, Philip J.; Coster, Anthea J. (2020). "Coordinated Groundâ Based and Spaceâ Based Observations of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles." Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics 125(1): n/a-n/a.
Abstract
This paper presents coordinated and fortuitous groundâ based and spaceborne observations of equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs) over the South American area on 24 October 2018, combining the following measurements: Globalâ scale Observations of Limb and Disk far ultraviolet emission images, Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content data, Swarm in situ plasma density observations, ionosonde virtual height and drift data, and cloud brightness temperature data. The new observations from the Globalâ scale Observations of Limb and Disk/ultraviolet imaging spectrograph taken at geostationary orbit provide a unique opportunity to image the evolution of plasma bubbles near the F peak height over a large geographic area from a fixed longitude location. The combined multiâ instrument measurements provide a more integrated and comprehensive way to study the morphological structure, development, and seeding mechanism of EPBs. The main results of this study are as follows: (1) The bubbles developed a westward tilted structure with 10â 15° inclination relative to the local geomagnetic field lines, with eastward drift velocity of 80â 120 m/s near the magnetic equator that gradually decreased with increasing altitude/latitude. (2) Waveâ like oscillations in the bottomside F layer and detrended total electron content were observed, which are probably due to upward propagating atmospheric gravity waves. The wavelength based on the mediumâ scale traveling ionospheric disturbance signature was consistent with the interbubble distance of â ¼500â 800 km. (3) The atmospheric gravity waves that originated from tropospheric convective zone are likely to play an important role in seeding the development of this equatorial EPBs event.Plain Language SummaryThis study presents multiâ instrument observations of equatorial plasma density depletions occurred on 24 October 2018 by using Globalâ scale Observations of Limb and Disk far ultraviolet images, Global Navigation Satellite System total electron content data, electron density measurements from Swarm satellite, ionosonde measurements, and cloud temperature data. This multiâ instrument study generated an integrated and detailed image revealing both largeâ scale and mesoscale structures of the equatorial plasma depletion. Our results also suggest that atmospheric gravity waves originating from tropospheric convection activity could play a significant seeding role in the development of equatorial plasma bubbles.Key PointsCombined GOLD/UV spectrograph images and groundâ based TEC data revealed EPB features and development over a large geographic areaBottomside F layer oscillations and traveling ionospheric disturbance were observed by ionosonde and detrended TEC resultsAtmospheric gravity waves likely play an important role in seeding the Râ T instability and the development of this EPB eventPublisher
Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ISSN
2169-9380 2169-9402
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