Question

Drift motion of ionospheric bubbles at the equatorial anomaly crest region

Answer 1

The poleward and zonal drift motions of the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) depletions at equatorial anomaly crest region are investigated using simultaneous observations of the ionospheric total electron content depletions associated with amplitude scintillations at Lunping, Chihpen, and Kaohsiung. Horizontal drift velocities are found ranging from 28 m/s to 237 m/s with a mean velocity of 116 + or - 60 m/s directed east-northeast with an azimuth of 62.9 deg. The most probable eastward drift velocity ranges from 64 m/s to 130 m/s with a mean velocity of 97 m/s, which is close to the eastward drift velocity of TEC depletions or ionospheric bubbles observed at the equator. The most probable poleward drift velocity ranges from 26 m/s to 71 m/s with a mean velocity of 45 m/s. It is also found that both the poleward and eastward zonal velocities decrease from evening to presunrise hours.