A statistical analysis of conjugate equatorial plasma bubbles based on 630 nm airglow observations

Dai, Zukang; Yu, Tao; Yang, Na; Wang, Jin; Fu, Di; Feng, Xiangpeng; Feng, Yutao

doi:10.1007/s11430-021-1013-4

Cited by 1 publication

(2 citation statements)

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“…As a consequence, symmetric EPBs occurrence are usually expected. However, inter-hemispheric asymmetry of the EPB occurrence has been reported in the literature as due to different growth rates between the two hemispheres, due to different ionospheric backgrounds (Dai et al, 2023), or inter-hemispheric differences in the neutral winds during two equinoxes (Hickey et al, 2020;Maruyama et al, 2009;Nishioka et al, 2008), or variation in the height of the ionosphere. Barros et al (2022) reports that, in the Brazilian sector, ∼30% of the nights the EPBs presented an apparent inter-hemispheric asymmetry that is also the case of the considered event.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Stepping Into an Equatorial Plasma Bubble With a Swarm Overfly

2023

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ESA's Swarm constellation entered in a “overfly” configuration in the period between September and October 2021, when the longitudinal distance between the lower pair and the upper satellite was at its minimum since the launch of the spacecrafts. In addition, the local time of the nighttime tracks was favorable to detect and study the morphology of post‐sunset equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). In this study, we focus on the Swarm overfly occurring between 00:41 UT and 00:59 UT on 30 September 2021, which covered one of the most densely instrumented regions for the study of the ionospheric irregularities embedded in the EPBs: the South American sector. By exploiting the use of ground‐based receivers of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals in combination with the Swarm plasma density measurements, we study the irregularities in the EPB formed at ∼60°W and investigate the different scales of the irregularities and the cascading processes along the magnetic flux tubes. We also highlight how diffusion along the magnetic field lines occurs simultaneously with the plasma uplift, contributing then to the correct interpretation of the EPB evolution and decay process. The precious overfly conditions also allow the introduction of ionosphere‐related quantities, evaluated across the tracks at satellite altitudes enlarging the possibilities given by the same quantities already available along the tracks. Such opportunity envisages the possibility to proxy the impact of EPBs on GNSS signals with Low‐Earth Orbit satellite data provided by future missions specifically dedicated to the characterization of the near‐Earth environment and ionospheric studies.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is also corroborated by the TEC map in Figure 2a, which reports lower level ionization in the Northern Hemisphere. This provides favorable conditions for inter‐hemispheric asymmetry of the EPB occurrence, due to reduced growth and decay rates, slowing down the EPB evolution (Dai et al., 2023).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%