Temporal and spatial power spectra from computer simulations of the equations modeling type II irregularities in the equatorial electrojet are presented. The power spectra are computed using the code of Ferch and Sudan (1977), averaging over times as long as 20 s. The dependence of the average frequencies and line widths on wavelength and angle from the electrojet drift is studied. The mean frequencies obtained agree well with linear theory except at short wavelengths, while the line widths are greater than those predicted by the linear damping rates. The spatial power spectra were also computed and found to be approximately isotropic. Favorable comparisons are made with radar observations and the theory of Sudan and Keskinen (1977).

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Two‐dimensional numerical studies of the development of type II irregularities in the equatorial electrojet have been carried out using a method similar to that of McDonald et al. (1974) except that ion inertia has been neglected. This simplification is shown to be a valid approximation whenever the electron drift velocity is small in comparison with the ion acoustic velocity and the values of the other parameters are those appropriate for the equatorial E layer. This code enables us to follow the development of quasi‐steady state turbulence from appropriate initial perturbations. The two‐dimensional turbulent spectrum of electron density perturbations excited is studied both for the case of development from initial perturbations and for the case of a continuously pumped single driving wave.