Turbulence characteristics inside ionospheric small-scale expanding structures observed with SuperDARN HF radars

R. André (1) , C. Hanuise (1) , J.-P. Villain (1) , V. Krasnoselskikh (1)

1 LPCE - Laboratoire de physique et chimie de l'environnement

Unusual structures characterized by a very high-velocity divergence have been observed in the high-latitude F-region with SuperDARN radars (André et al., 2000). These structures have been interpreted as due to local demagnetization of the plasma in the ionospheric F-region, during very specific geophysical conditions. In this study, the collective wave scattering theory is used to characterize the decameter-scale turbulence (l approx 15 m) inside the structures. The distribution function of the diffusion coefficient is modified when the structures are generated, suggesting that two regimes of turbulence coexist. A temporal analysis decorrelates the two regimes and gives access to the dynamics associated with the structures. It is shown that a high turbulent regime precedes the plasma demagnetization and should be related to an energy deposition. Then a second regime appears when the plasma is demagnetized and disappears simultaneously with the structures. This study is the first application of the collective wave scattering theory to a specific geophysical event.

Domaines: Océan, Atmosphère; Sciences de la Terre

R. André, C. Hanuise, J.-P. Villain, V. Krasnoselskikh. Turbulence characteristics inside ionospheric small-scale expanding structures observed with SuperDARN HF radars. Annales Geophysicae, 2003, 21 (8), pp.1839-1845. ⟨10.5194/angeo-21-1839-2003⟩. ⟨hal-00329282⟩