Day-to-day variability in the development of plasma bubbles associated with geomagnetic disturbances

• Grant number: 09/00416-7
• Support type: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Duration: March 01, 2009 - February 28, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geophysics
• Principal researcher: José Ricardo Abalde Guede
• Grantee: José Ricardo Abalde Guede
• Home Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of equatorial ionospheric irregularities into large-scale ionospheric plasma bubbles continues to be an active area for scientific investigations. In this paper we present simultaneous OI 630.0 nm emission all-sky imaging observations carried out at the Astrophysics National Laboratory - "LNA", Brazopolis (22.5o S, 45.6o W, altitude 1860 m) and ionospheric sounding observations carried out at Palmas (10.2o S, 48.2o W; located close to the magnetic equator) and Sao Jose dos Campos (23.2o S, 45.9o W; located under the southern crest of equatorial ionospheric anomaly, close to Brazopolis), Brazil, to study the day-to-day variability in the development of ionospheric plasma bubbles during both geomagnetically disturbed and quiet periods in September - October, 2002. Also, we present simultaneous complementary phase fluctuation (ROT) data obtained from the GPS (Global Position System) meridional chain operated by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistic - "IBGE". On the three nights studied in the present investigation (one geomagnetically quiet and two geomagnetically disturbed) it has been observed that the geomagnetic disturbances, during this spring-equinox period, have a strong effect on the generation and development of ionospheric plasma bubbles. (AU)