Open AccessDisturbed vertical E×B plasma drifts in the equatorial F2 region at solar minimum deduced from observed NmF2 and hmF2 variations
Author(s) -
A. V. Mikhailov,
M. Förster,
T. Yu. Leschinskaya
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
annales geophysicae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.522
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1432-0576
pISSN - 0992-7689
DOI - 10.1007/s00585-996-0733-z
Subject(s) - daytime , ionosonde , atmospheric sciences , ionosphere , plasma , f region , electric field , geophysics , physics , geology , geodesy , electron density , quantum mechanics
Ground-based ionosonde and magnetic-fieldobservations on the equatorial station Huancayo, ESRO4 neutral-compositionmeasurements, and theoretical model calculations were used to analyze disturbed E×Bvertical plasma drift during the phase of solar minimum in 1973. Vertical driftscalculated for disturbed days do not show the systematic decrease oftenmentioned in publications, and demonstrate strong dependence on IMF-Bzchanges. It is confirmed with the help of our drift calculations that Bzturnings to a northward direction result in a decrease (up to reversal) ofnormal Sq (eastward during daytime and westward at nighttime) in the zonalcomponent of electric field. Southward Bz excursions enhancenormal Ey both in daytime and nighttime hours. Modelpredictions of Ey's reaction to IMF-Bzchanges are discussed