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On seeding equatorial spread F during solstices
Author(s) -
Tsunoda Roland T.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2010gl042576
Subject(s) - solstice , equator , sunset , earth's magnetic field , maxima , intertropical convergence zone , convergence zone , atmospheric sciences , geology , magnetic dip , geophysics , terminator (solar) , seeding , climatology , physics , meteorology , magnetic field , ionosphere , geodesy , astronomy , precipitation , art , quantum mechanics , performance art , latitude , art history , thermodynamics
Interpretation of the morphology of equatorial spread F (ESF) is usually given in terms of factors that modulate the growth rate of the Rayleigh‐Taylor instability. That interpretation is, however, incomplete because only one means for growth‐rate enhancement has been included; that is, the strength of the post‐sunset rise of the F layer could become enhanced, when the solar terminator aligns with geomagnetic field lines. Maxima in ESF occurrence observed near equinoxes seem accountable by this means, but maxima observed near solstices require another source of enhancement. Seasonal migration and latitudinal alignment of the inter‐tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) with the magnetic dip equator is suggested as the missing source, and shown able to fill that void.