Remote Sensing Observations of Equatorial Plasma Bubble by HF Transequatorial Propagation

Abstract

Equatorial plasma bubbles generated in the low -latitude ionosphere after the sunset can cause scintillations and loss-of-lock of trans-ionospheric satellite signals. Continuous remote-sensing observations are effective for the now cast and forecast of generations and propagations of plasma bubbles in the Japanese longitudinal sector. One of such remote-sensing observations is the observation of HF transequatorial propagation between Japan and Australia. This article describes the generation and propagation characteristics of plasma bubbles. The east-west asymmetry in the bottomside structures of plasma bubbles is also discussed.