Acoustic-gravity waves in the Earth's ionosphere

Taking into account the existence of charged particles in the Earth's ionosphere the propagation of acoustic-gravity waves is investigated. The influence of the Coriolis force is also taken into account. The weakly ionized ionospheric D, E, and F-layers are considered. The existence of a cut-off frequency at 2 Omega(0) (Omega(0) is the value of the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation) is noted. It is shown that the linear waves are damped because of the Pedersen conductivity. When the acoustic-gravity waves are excited by external events (volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, lightning strikes, etc.) their amplitudes grow until self-organization of these waves into nonlinear vortex solitary structures is admitted. Taking into account the interaction of the induced ionospheric current with the geomagnetic field the governing nonlinear equations are deduced. The formation of dipole vortex solitary structures of low-frequency internal gravity waves is shown for the stable stratified ionosphere. The dynamic energy equation for such nonlinear structures is obtained. It is shown that nonlinear solitary vortical structures damp due to joule losses. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.