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Detailed Reference Information
Immel et al. 2003
Immel, T.J., Mende, S.B., Frey, H.U., Peticolas, L.M. and Sagawa, E. (2003). Determination of low latitude plasma drift speeds from FUV images. Geophysical Research Letters 30: doi: 10.1029/2003GL017573. issn: 0094-8276.

Thousands of images of the nighttime equatorial airglow arcs have been obtained by the Far-Ultraviolet Imager (FUV) on-board the NASA IMAGE satellite. Imaging periods lasting several hours around the time of satellite apogee allow for the determination of the velocity of drifting plasma density depletions occurring within the airglow arcs. These velocities reflect the E ¿ B drift of low-latitude plasma under the influence of a vertical electric field. A survey of several weeks of data produces information regarding the variation of drift speeds with solar 10.7-cm radio flux. Comparisons to previous measurements by the Jicamarca radar show that the FUV-determined plasma drift speeds are 10--35% greater, particularly before 2100 local time. This difference is attributed mainly to the different magnetic latitudes of the observations.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Ionosphere, Equatorial ionosphere, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Airglow and aurora, Ionosphere, Ionospheric dynamics, Atmospheric Composition and Structure, Instruments and techniques, Ionosphere, Ionospheric irregularities
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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