PANCAKE CYCLONES AND ANTI-CYCLONES IN THE IONOSPHERE

The formation of pancake cyclones and anticyclones in the E-region of the Earth's ionosphere is considered. It is shown that the vortices ca n be maintained by the neutral winds or by chemical reactions includin g the energy release caused by the triple collisions of atomic oxygen with neutrals. It is found that the variations of the magnetic fields induced by the vortices are not localized and decrease slowly far from the vortex core. They can be easily detected by ground based magnetom eters or by facilities on board the low-orbiting satellites.