New expression of the field-line integrated Rayleigh-Taylor instability growth rate

The results show that pronounced R-T growth rates are captured between 18 and 22 local time (LT) when strong PRE occurs in the equatorial ionosphere. The simulated R-T growth rate increases with increasing solar activity levels and demonstrates strong correlations with the angle between the sunset terminator and the geomagnetic field line. These results are consistent with plasma irregularity occurrence rates shown in various satellite observations, suggesting that the newly developed R-T growth rate calculation can effectively capture the probability of irregularities by considering the changes along magnetic flux-tubes in the ionosphere.

Since the WAM-IPE is running in operation at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Prediction Center, the new calculations can be potentially implemented in the near future to provide forecasted information of the R-T growth rate.