Equatorial plasma bubble rise velocities in the Indian sector determined from multistation scintillation observations

The velocity of plasma-bubble rise over the magnetic equator is calculated on the basis of simultaneous measurements of the onset times of postsunset VHF scintillations from the Japanese satellite ETS-2, obtained at a meridian array of four Indian stations during February 1980. The data and calculation results are presented in tables and graphs and discussed in detail. It is found that bubble velocities increase with altitude, varying in the ranges 128-416, 38-327, and 15-200 m/sec at altitudes 450-550, 550-1140, and 1140-1270 km, respectively. These results are shown to be in good agreement with satellite and radar measurements and with F-layer vertical drift velocities. 17 refs