Abstract:
Over 53 nights of all sky airglow imager data collected during January-
April 2012 from the low latitude station Kolhapur (16.68°N, 74.26°E;
10.6°N dip latitude) have been analyzed to study the F-region dynamics
through the imaging of OI 630 nm emission line. The observed night airglow
data were supported by the ionosonde measurements from
Tirunelveli (8.7°N, 77.8°E; 0.51°N dip latitude). Well defined magnetic
field aligned depletions were observed during the observation period. Out
of 53 nights, 40 nights exhibited the occurrence of north-south aligned
equatorial plasma bubbles. These plasma bubbles were found moving towards
east with drift speed in range between 70 to 200 m s-1. We have analyzed
the zonal drift velocity variation and relation of bubble occurrence
with the base height of the ionosphere together with the effects of the geomagnetic
Ap and solar flux F10.7 cm index in its first appearance.
