A Decadal Pattern of the Morning Counter Electrojet Occurrences and the Equatorial Ionospheric Dynamics
Abstract
Quantitative understanding on the role of eastward electric field (EEF) thus the electrojet, on the equatorial and low-latitude ionospheric electron density variabilities is very useful in estimating ionospheric total electron content (TEC) with improved accuracy and the corresponding range delays in communication and navigation system. The present work examines the occurrence characteristics of the equatorial counter electrojet (CEJ) during forenoon in a decade (2008-2017) at American longitudinal sectors using data from ground-based magnetometer observations. The role of the morning, noon, and afternoon counter electrojet on the dynamics of the height of the peak ionization in the F-layer, electron density as well as GPS-TEC distributions at low latitudes, have been discussed using various ionospheric parameters obtained from ionosondes and GPS data. In particular, the annual, seasonal, and day-to-day variations of forenoon counter electrojets and their correlation on accompanying features of ionospheric F-Layer in the low latitudes have been studied in detail. Further, the time delay between the occurrences of the forenoon counter electrojet and the well-influenced height, and density of the F-layer is studied and corresponding results are presented. It has been found that the forenoon counter-electrojets has a pronounced influence on equatorial plasma fountain, the height of the peak ionization in the F-layer, and TEC at low latitudes. Surprisingly, it is also seen that the occurrence patterns of CEJ is likely to follow the occurrence pattern of the equatorial spread-F (ESF). Additionally, the possible drivers of the morning counter electrojet whose signature is seen as a depression in the electrojet under quiet geomagnetic conditions in equatorial latitudes will also be discussed.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMSA52A..03K
- Keywords:
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- 2415 Equatorial ionosphere;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 2435 Ionospheric disturbances;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 2437 Ionospheric dynamics;
- IONOSPHEREDE: 2441 Ionospheric storms;
- IONOSPHERE