SEISMOIONOSPHERIC FOUNTAIN-EFFECT AS ANALOG OF ACTIVE SPACE EXPERIMENT

Space investigation includes modelling and initiation of natural processes in ionospheric-magnetospheric plasma by active experimental methods with artificial influence as a specific part. For the first time we present her the possibility of triggering the unique equatorial ionosphere phenomenon known as fountain-effect by lithospheric processes before an earthquake. Anomalous influence of earthquake preparation processes with epicenter close to magnetic equator on latitudinal distribution of f(o)F - F-region penetration frequencies and spread-F is discussed and considered by us as an analogue of an active experiment. Using Alouette-1 data it is shown that approximately one day before the earthquake f(o)F2 dependence on magnetic latitude looks like a double-crest curve with minimum close to epicenter. Simultaneously oblique and spread traces appeared at topside ionograms. The effect is evident during evening hours. Such kind of f(o)F2-dependence is unusual and is not observed during the preceding days, nor some days later. So, a possible reason for the observation might be connected with generation of an anomalous electric field near the epicenter during earthquake preparation stage, which initiates a phenomenon similar to the natural fountain-effect.