[600MRG] Ionosphere Patch Mapping: Part 2

[James Hollander]

Please add your words of wisdom whether this ionosphere patch mapping method makes sense or how to improve it. The info involves a July 30, 2015, loss and reacquisition of XIQ decodes at SWLK9EN61, WB8ILI, WA3TTS/2.               73, Jim H  W5EST  

   
      
   
   IONOSPHERE  PATCH  MAPPING (continued) 
   In Part 1, I estimated a NE front side of the patch was moving at velocity v1:
        v1 = 565 km/hr NE.  

   What about a back side of the patch? To make sense of the decodes that resumed 0420z, 0426z, 0412z at K, ILI, and TTS, those times compel me to draw a straight line WSW/ENE moving in the WNW direction. That way the back side of the patch released XIQ signal first  to TTS from overhead Paducah, KY, then XIQ signal to K was released from overhead Mountain View, MO, and XIQ signal was released at last to ILI from overhead Sparta, IL.
   This WSW/ENE backside of the patch took about 14 minutes (0.24 hour 0412-0426z) to move 70km perpendicular distance from Paducah to a WSW/ENE line through Sparta, IL.  The velocity component of the backside of the patch is v2:

     v2 = 290 km/hr WNW.  (= 70km/0.24hr) 
   Assume the entire patch has a single velocity v.  The patch might be a traveling wave in the ionosphere, or might be actual mass-transport there.  To find that single velocity v for the whole patch, use vector addition by drawing velocity arrows with arrow v1 pointing to the tail of arrow v2.
    v = v1 + v2  (vector addition) = ~600km/hr somewhat N of NE v1.
   The vector sum v is the arrow v that goes from the tail of arrow v1 to the head of arrow v2. The length of arrow v is its speed, and the direction of arrow v is the direction of the overall motion of the ionosphere patch, a little bit N of NE of arrow v1.  
   Is 600km/hr (~370mph) a believable speed for a patch?  Yes, if the patch is a traveling wave.  Speed of sound in the ionosphere is ~100-250 meters/sec. The estimated speed 600km/hr = 166 meters/sec, lies in the center of that 100-250 m/sec range stated by: Harris, T. J., M. A. Cervera, and D. H. Meehan (2012), SpICE: A program to study small-scale disturbances in the ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A06321. (See 2nd and 9th pp.)

  Next:  Actually how big was this ionospheric patch? 
   
   --continued in Part 3--