Competition between winds and electric fields in the formation of blanketing sporadic E layers at equatorial regions

Author(s)

Araujo Resende, Laysa Cristina ; Batista, Inez Staciarini ; Denardini, Clezio Marcos ; Carrasco, Alexander Jose ; Andrioli, Vania de Fatima ; Moro, Juliano ; Batista, Paulo Prado ; Chen, Sony Su

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: EARTH PLANETS AND SPACE; v. 68, DEC 1 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 7

Abstract

In the present work, we analyze the competition between tidal winds and electric fields in the formation of blanketing sporadic E layers (Esb) over Sao Luis, Brazil (2 degrees 31'S, 44 degrees 16'W), a quasi-equatorial station. To investigate this competition, we have used an ionospheric E region model (MIRE) that is able to model the Esb layers taking into account the E region winds and electric fields. The model calculates the densities for the main molecular and metallic ions by solving the continuity and momentum equations for each of the species. Thus, the main purpose of this analysis is to verify the electric fields role in the occurrence or disruption of Esb layers through simulations. The first results of the simulations show that the Esb layer is usually present when only the tidal winds were considered. In addition, when the zonal component of the electric field is introduced in the simulation, the Esb layers do not show significant changes. However, the simulations show the disruption of the Esb layers when the vertical electric field is included. In this study, we present two specific cases in which Esb layers appear during some hours over Sao Luis. We can see that these layers appear when the vertical electric field was weak, which means that the tidal components were more effective during these hours. Therefore, the vertical component of the electric field is the main agent responsible for the Esb layer disruption. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/08769-9 - Study of gravity waves in the mesosphere lower thermosphere region using meteor radar, LIDAR and all-sky CCD imagers
• Grantee: Vânia Fátima Andrioli Novaes Silva
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 12/08445-9 - Study of day-to-day variability of the mesosphere, thermosphere and ionosphere at low latitude and equatorial region, during the solar cycle 24
• Grantee: Paulo Roberto Fagundes
• Support type: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11198-9 - Analysis of the disturbed electrical fields effects in the sporadic layers on Equatorials and low latitude regions
• Grantee: Láysa Cristina Araújo Resende Chagas
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate