The postsunset vortex in the equatorial ionosphere exhibits clockwise plasma motions after sunset in longitude (time) and altitude coordinates when the equatorial ionosphere is viewed looking northward. We describe the typical morphology of the postsunset vortex using incoherent scatter radar observations at Jicamarca in Peru during the previous solar maximum (2000–2002). A pronounced vortical plasma motion appears around 1700 LT along with the onset of the prereversal enhancement (PRE). The center of this vortex is located near an altitude of 270 km. A smaller‐scale vortex also appears about 0.5 ~ 1 h later at higher altitudes. However, the morphology and occurrence time of this small vortex depend on the characteristics of the coherent backscatter region. We find that the earlier vortex is the major feature of the postsunset vortices because it is repeatable, associated wit...

We investigated the association of broad plasma depletions (BPDs) with plasma bubbles and ionospheric uplift in the equatorial F region using the coincident satellite and radar observations over Jicamarca in Peru. BPDs were detected by the first Republic of China satellite (ROCSAT-1) on the nights of 21 and 22 December 2002 during the period of moderate geomagnetic activity. The observations of the Jicamarca Unattended Long-term Investigations of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere radar and an ionosonde showed that the F peak height was lifted above the ROCSAT-1 altitude (600 km) at the times of the BPD detection. The fraction of NO+ was substantial at the locations of BPDs. These observations support the association of the BPDs with the ionospheric uplift. However, the absence of large backscatter plumes at the times of the BPD detection indicates that the BPDs were not produced by a single ...

The zonal motions of plasmas inside equatorial plasma bubbles are different from those in the background ionosphere. The difference was explained in terms of the tilt of bubbles by recent studies, but observational evidence of this hypothesis has not yet been provided. We examine this hypothesis and, at the same time, look for an alternative explanation on the basis of the coincident satellite and radar observations over Jicamarca (11.95°S, 76.87°W) in Peru. In the observations at premidnight by the first Republic of China satellite (altitude: 600 km, inclination: 35°), plasmas inside bubbles drift westward relative to ambient plasmas. The same phenomenon is identified by radar observations. However, the relative westward plasma motions inside bubbles occur regardless of the tilt of bubbles, and therefore, the tilt is not the primary cause of the deviation of the plasma motions inside...