Theoretical Basis of the Formation of Sporadic E Due to Wind Motion in the Ionosphere

We discuss the mechanism producing ionization irregularities by wind motion in the ionosphere, showing that the geomagnetic field resists the production by scaloidal wind as sound waves, but induces the production by toroidal wind as turbulence. The electric polarization set up tends to impede the formation, but dissipates along high conductive field lines of the geomagnetic field, if the wind motion varies along the magnetic field. We discuss the effect of the electric field on the layer formation, illustrating its time variation when a uniform electric field and a height‐dependent horizontal wind exist.