First observations of large-scale wave structure and equatorial spread F using CERTO radio beacon on the C/NOFS satellite

• Published in: Geophysical research letters Vol. 36; no. 18; pp. L18111 - n/a
• Main Authors: Thampi, Smitha V., Yamamoto, Mamoru, Tsunoda, Roland T., Otsuka, Yuichi, Tsugawa, Takuya, Uemoto, Jyunpei, Ishii, Mamoru
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Geophysical Union 01-09-2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Atmospheric sciences; Communication satellites; Communication systems; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Electric fields; Equatorial ionosphere; equatorial spread F; Exact sciences and technology; F region; Geophysics; Ionosphere; Ionospheric disturbances; Ionospheric irregularities; large-scale wave structure; Plasma waves and instabilities; radio beacon; Radio beacons; Satellites; Spread F; Sunset; Wavelengths; Far East; Asia; Vietnam; equatorial spread F; large-scale wave structure; radio beacon; Sunset; wavelength; waves; satellites; navigation; tomography; latitude; prediction; Spread F; growth; dip; Total electron content
• ISSN: 0094-8276; 1944-8007
• DOI: 10.1029/2009GL039887

First observations of large‐scale wave structure (LSWS) and the subsequent development of equatorial spread F (ESF), using total electron content (TEC) derived from the ground based reception of beacon signals from the CERTO (Coherent Electromagnetic Radio Tomography) radio beacon on board C/NOFS (Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System) satellite, are presented. Selected examples of TEC variations, using measurements made during January 2009 from Bac Lieu, Vietnam (9.2°N, 105.6°E geographic, 1.7°N magnetic dip latitude) are presented to illustrate two key findings: (1) LSWS appears to play a more important role in the development of ESF than the post‐sunset rise (PSSR) of the F‐layer, and (2) LSWS can appear well before E region sunset. Other findings, that LSWS does not have significant zonal drift in the initial stages of growth, and can have zonal wavelengths of several hundred kilometers, corroborate earlier reports.