Some examples from the Atmosphere Explorer E data showing plasma bubbl
e development from wavy ion density structures in the bottomside F lay
er are described. The wavy structures mostly had east-west wavelengths
of 150-800 km; in one example it was about 3000 km. The ionization tr
oughs in the wavy structures later broke up into either a multiple-bub
ble patch or a single bubble, depending upon whether, in the precursor
wavy structure, shorter wavelengths were superimposed on the larger-s
cale wavelengths. In the multiple-bubble patches, intrabubble spacings
varied from 55 km to 140 km. In a fully developed equatorial spread F
case, east-west wavelengths from 690 km down to about 0.5 km were pre
sent simultaneously. The spacings between bubble parches or between bu
bbles in a patch appear to be determined by the wavelengths present in
the precursor wave structure. In some cases, deeper bubbles developed
on the western edge of a bubble patch, suggesting an east-west asymme
try. Simultaneous horizontal neutral wind measurements showed wavelike
perturbations that were closely associated with perturbations in the
plasma horizontal drift velocity. We argue that the wave structures ob
served here that served as the initial seed ion density perturbations
were caused by gravity waves, strengthening the view that gravity wave
s seed equatorial spread F irregularities.