Abstract
Parametric instabilities excited in the ionosphere by powerful radio wave transmissions from the ground are reviewed. The parametric decay instability is strongly excited by such transmissions below the maximum plasma frequency of the ionosphere. Three byproducts of this instability are artificial airglow, field-aligned density striations and strong anomalous RF absorption of diagnostic waves. Theories attempting to explain these phenomena are outlined. Two other parametric instabilities, namely stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering, are weakly excited by certain powerful incoherent backscatter radars. Attempts to detect the effects of such instabilities on incoherent backscatter spectra are described

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