Plasma blobs associated with plasma bubbles observed in the Brazilian sector

Author(s)

Tardelli-Coelho, F. ^[1] ; Pimenta, A. A. ^[2] ; Tardelli, A. ^[1] ; Abalde, J. R. ^[3] ; Venkatesh, K. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Vale Paraiba UNIVAP, Ave Shishima Hifumi 2911, BR-12244000 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Pesquisas Espaciais INPE, Ave Astronautas 1-758, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Inst Tecnol Aeronaut, Praca Marechal Eduardo Gomes 50, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Advances in Space Research; v. 60, n. 8, p. 1716-1724, OCT 15 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

In this paper we present a case of plasma blobs associated with plasma bubbles which were observed by emission of OI 630.0 nm airglow, using ground-based (all-sky images) and DMSP-F15 satellite data on 23 February 2007, over a low latitude station Sao Jose dos Campos (SJC) (23.21 degrees S, 45.86 degrees W; dip latitude 18.3 degrees S) in the Brazilian sector. We calculated the zonal drift velocities of the plasma bubble and plasma blobs, and the longitudinal drift of the blobs that occurred that night using the linearization method presented by Pimenta et al. (2001). The north/south and east/west extensions of plasma blobs have also been estimated. The mean velocity of the plasma bubble is found to be 74 +/- 8 m/s and the plasma blob zonal drift is 61 +/- 6 m/s. The average velocity of the longitudinal drift of the plasma blob was 85 +/- 13 m/s and the analyzed blobs had the mean north/south extension of 591 km and east/west extension of 328 and 263 km. (C) 2017 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/24791-2 - Study of ionospheric F layer multiple stratification near equatorial region and low latitude.
• Grantee: Alexandre Tardelli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 09/15769-2 - Ionospheric plasma bubbles propagations and waves in the upper atmosphere
• Grantee: José Ricardo Abalde Guede
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants