Comparison of co-located mid-latitude sporadic E and meteor radar wind observations

Sporadic E are localized layers of enhanced metallic ionization that form in the E region of the ionosphere. They are usually observed between 95 and 120 km altitude with a thickness in altitude ranging from ~100 m to a few kilometers. Studying these layers is important, as their characteristics and variability impact the propagation of HF radio waves. At mid-latitudes, the generation of sporadic E is most often explained by the wind shear theory, where these layers form due to the convergence of ions generated by vertical shears in the horizontal components of the neutral wind. The primary wind patterns responsible for Es are the diurnal and semidiurnal tides. Local variability of the neutral winds and sporadic E can be driven by both gravity waves and planetary waves. We present comparisons between Es observations from an ionosonde and MLT neutral winds obtained from a meteor radar, co-located in northern New Mexico.

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