Large amplitude hydromagnetic waves above the ionosphere

Arguments are made for the existence above the ionosphere of very large amplitude hydromagnetic waves. Crude estimates show that it is not unreasonable to expect hydromagnetic waves above the ionosphere to have an amplitude of the order of 102 times the amplitude of geomagnetic fluctuations observed at the surface of the earth. It is suggested that these hydromagnetic waves produce the irregularities in electron density which are responsible for radio-star scintillation. It is also suggested that the large amplitude hydromagnetic waves are responsible for producing the high intensity particle radiation observed above about 1,000 km by Van Allen, et al.