Abstract Sporadic E is itself a stratification within the E-region. The seasonal, diurnal and geographic distributions are not easily explained on the basis of the popular windshear theory. Stratification of mid-latitude sporadic E into 2 or more layers was observed as early as 1956 and preferred heights for sporadic E layers evident from rocket measurements noted in 1968, and from incoherent backscatter in 1973. Recently phase ionosonde measurements and incoherent backscatter observations have provided further data. There is evidence of preferred heights near 97 and 102.5 km; a possible though not completely satisfactory explanation is that internal gravity waves are reflected from above the E-region with an amplitude reflection coefficient of more than 50%. Simultaneous existence of two layers within a kilometre height of each other may be due to different metallic ion compositions. Such layers 2 km apart have been observed by incoherent backscatter and require the existence of large electric fields.
Sporadic E layers; history and recent observations
Advances in Space Research ; 10 , 10 ; 85-91
01.01.1990
7 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Rocket observations of sporadic-E layers.
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|British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|Permanent Changes in Sporadic E Layers over Fortaleza, Brazil
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|