Spatial shape and development dynamics of auroral scintillation patches

Results of simultaneous measurements of altitude distribution of auroral small-scale irregularities and total electron content by the method of radio illumination of the ionosphere by signals from an orbital satellite at 150–400 MHz are presented. It is shown that under magnetically quiet conditions the small-scale irregularities (1km) tend to occupy local regions, which extend over 100– 200 km along the geomagnetic fieldB with 5– 20 km from the North to South. Characteristic times of formation and collapse of such local structures under the conditions of weak geomagnetic activity are of the order of more than one hour.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 39, No. 3, pp. 276–285, March, 1996.This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Fundamental Research (grants Nos. 93-02-3360 and 96-02-18500-a.)