Observations of an intermediate layer during the Coqui II campaign

NASA sounding rocket 21.114, launched March 7, 1998, during the Coqui II ca mpaign, provided neutral wind and plasma density measurements of a weak int ermediate layer. The layer was centered near 140 km and had an approximate peak plasma density of 2200 cm(-3). The measured winds were typically less than 40 m s(-1), in agreement with wind shear formation theory and coincide nt density observations. The data obtained during the flight allow us to ex plore the plasma density structure and wind field morphology of the interme diate layer. Coupled with simultaneous data from Arecibo Observatory, the u pleg and downleg density profiles provide three spatially separated measure ments that enable the first detailed investigation of the horizontal extent and variation of an intermediate layer.