Localized packets of acoustic gravity waves in the ionosphere

Abstract

Using mass-spectrometric measurement data from the Dynamics Explorer 2 satellite, we investigated the distribution of medium-scale acoustic gravity waves (AGWs) at altitudes of the F -region of the ionosphere. It is shown that the planetary field of AGWs contains a regular and a sporadic component. The regular distribution of AGWs involves active polar areas (where the ionosphere is highly disturbed) and a relatively calm equatorial area. Sporadic AGWs are isolated and spatially localized wave packets that are distinguished against the background of the regular distribution of the wave field. We generated a directory containing observations of sporadic AGW for the period January–February 1983 and performed a statistical analysis of their relation to earthquakes.