Further complexities on the pre-reversal vertical drift modeling over the Brazilian region: A comparison between long-term observations and model results

Author(s)

Sousasantos, Jonas ^[1] ; Abdu, Mangalathayil Ali ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Santos, Angela ^{[1, 3]} ; Batista, Inez ^[3] ; Silva, Andre ^{[1, 2]} ; Loures, Luis Eduardo ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Tecnol Aeronaut ITA, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Batista, Inez, Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais INPE, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP, Brazil.Sousasantos, Jonas, Inst Tecnol Aeronaut ITA, BR-12228900 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais INPE, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF SPACE WEATHER AND SPACE CLIMATE; v. 10, JUN 9 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The vertical component of the plasma drift, especially the evening-time pre-reversal drift, constitutes an important aspect of the nighttime electrodynamics of the equatorial ionosphere. Over the years, several studies using measurements and models have been performed to understand the characteristics of this process and its implications for the development of the instabilities leading to the plasma bubble formation and ionospheric scintillation. However, the Brazilian region presents some unique features that bring some difficulties for the vertical drift prognosis, which is required for the scintillation forecasting. These features are mainly related to the geomagnetic field lines topology that presents strong differences when compared to those of other equatorial longitudes. In this work, some of the difficulties for the pre-reversal vertical drift modeling and estimation are discussed; also, a dataset containing long-term observation (2001-2009) is compared with a widely used empirical model. The results show an intrinsic trend of underestimation by the model, which seems to be independent of latitude and seasonality thus suggesting an additional contribution arising from sources other than solely the geomagnetic topology. Also, the results indicate that the deviation can vary in the range of 0-40 m/s and the percentage error enhances with increasing values of pre-reversal vertical drift peak and reduces with increasing F10.7 values, thereby, indicating a clear possibility of meridional winds contribution which is not included in the empirical model used and may account for these differences. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/24970-7 - The Scintillation Prediction Observation Research Task (SPORT)
• Grantee: Mangalathayil Ali Abdu
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 18/06158-9 - Statistical Studies of the Variation of Ionospheric Parameters and Their Relationship with Space Weather Events
• Grantee: Jonas de Sousa dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 15/25357-4 - Climatology of Intermediate Layers on the Equatorial and Low Latitudes Regions over Brazilian sector
• Grantee: Angela Machado dos Santos Valentim
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral