Open AccessHigh electron temperature associated with the prereversal enhancement in the equatorial ionosphere
Author(s) -
Oyama K.I.,
Abdu M. A.,
Balan N.,
Bailey G. J.,
Watanabe S.,
Takahashi T.,
Paula E. R.,
Batista I. S.,
Isoda F.,
Oya H.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/96ja02705
Subject(s) - ionosphere , anomaly (physics) , sunset , ionization , electron , satellite , geophysics , atmospheric sciences , electron temperature , physics , plasma , f region , geology , ion , astronomy , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics
High electron temperature in the equatorial ionization anomaly region detected first by Kyokko satellite and later observed frequently by Hinotori satellite are found to be closely associated with the ionization crests of the anomaly. This phenomenon, called the equatorial electron temperature anomaly, is found to occur predominantly in the equinoctial months and to become enhanced with the increase in solar activity. It is mainly a nighttime phenomenon and shows maximum temperature enhancement at around 2100 LT. Using a theoretical model, a mechanism for its occurrence is presented. The mechanism is based on the plasma transport in the evening equatorial ionosphere resulting from the sunset electrodynamical processes.