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Aeronomic effects of the South Atlantic Anomaly
Author(s) -
Gledhill J. A.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
reviews of geophysics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 8.087
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1944-9208
pISSN - 8755-1209
DOI - 10.1029/rg014i002p00173
Subject(s) - south atlantic anomaly , anomaly (physics) , earth's magnetic field , ionosphere , geophysics , electron density , airglow , atmospheric sciences , geology , physics , electron precipitation , magnetic anomaly , precipitation , electron , climatology , magnetosphere , van allen radiation belt , magnetic field , meteorology , condensed matter physics , quantum mechanics
Experimental and theoretical values for precipitated electron and proton fluxes in the area of the South Atlantic geomagnetic anomaly are reviewed. Observations of airglow which have been reported in the literature suggest that there is no enhancement in the Brazilian region, though there may be some in the southeastern part of the Atlantic area. There is evidence from various types of observations that the electron density in the ionosphere is greater over the South Atlantic than at comparable places elsewhere, especially during magnetic disturbances, and similarly the ion density shows enhanced values. Electron and neutral temperatures may also be higher than normal in the anomalous region. Observations are required in all these fields, coordinated with particle flux measurements from rockets and satellites in the area, to confirm the reality of the effects and their relationship to particle precipitation.