IONOSPHERIC F-LAYER PLASMA IRREGULARITIES FROM ATOMIC OXYGEN NIGHTGLOW EMISSIONS

Simultaneous measurements of the atomic oxygen nightglow emissions at 777.4 nm and 630.0 nm have been used in the past few years to determine the ionospheric F-layer peak electron density and peak height, and to investigate the pattern of F-layer depleted plasma regions, or ionospheric transequatorial associated irregularities plasma bubbles, and their in the tropical ionosphere. Meridional scanning observations of these emissions at low latitudes are presented, in the form of computer generated three-dimensional perspective views, showing the spacial north-south and temporal intensity variations of the OI emissions, for normal conditions and in the presence of field-aligned large scale plasma irregularities or bubbles.