Nonlinear evolution of diffuse auroral F region ionospheric irregularities

Numerical simulations of the nonlinear evolution of the current convective instability in the diffuse aurora have been performed for conditions typical of the nighttime high latitude F region. Our results show nearly field aligned plasma irregularities developing in regions of well‐defined northward gradients of total electron content (TEC) and field‐aligned diffuse auroral particle precipitation. In addition, we find equatorward movement of plasma enhancements and northward (poleward) movement of plasma depletions (holes). Furthermore, one‐dimensional spatial power spectra of the irregularities in both the north‐south and east‐west directions are well described by inverse power laws.