IONOSPHERIC TURBULENCE INDUCED IN THE LOWER PART OF THE E-REGION BY THE TURBULENCE OF THE NEUTRAL ATMOSPHERE

Strong large-scale oscillations of the electric field and plasma densi ty observed on rockets in the lower part of the ionospheric E layer an d the scattering of low-frequency radar waves (f less than or equal to 10 MHz) in the same region of ionosphere are not well explained by th e existing theories. We explore here a new mechanism of the excitation of plasma turbulence in the lower part of the E region, connected wit h the turbulent motion of neutral atmosphere. The problem is solved in a fluid approximation. The spectrum of induced fluctuations of electr on and ion densities and electric field is determined and analyzed. Th e cross section for scattering of radio waves from the lower ionospher e is determined.