F-3 layer development during quiet and disturbed periods as observed at conjugate locations in Brazil: The role of the meridional wind

Autor(es)

Batista, Inez S. ; Candido, C. M. N. ; Souza, J. R. ; Abdu, M. A. ; de Araujo, R. C. ; Resende, L. C. A. ; Santos, A. M.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS; v. 122, n. 2, p. 2361-2373, FEB 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 11

Resumo

In this work we use ionospheric data from two low-latitude stations located north and south of the geomagnetic equator, at approximately the same magnetic longitude, in order to study the occurrence of the F-3 layer. The location of the stations being at almost geomagnetically conjugate points is such that the effects of the electric field/vertical plasma drift and diffusion will be almost symmetric around the magnetic equator. Under this configuration it is possible to deduce the effect of meridional wind in the F-3 layer occurrence. Our results show that during the December solstice the layer will be present at the Southern Hemisphere (SH) location in 97% of the days and in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) location in only 4% of the days. In the June solstice the situation is reversed with the occurrence in the NH being 82% and 16% in the SH. For the March equinox the occurrence is low at both locations (4% in NH and 7% in SH), being mainly present during magnetically disturbed periods. The analysis of the effective meridional wind based on the Horizontal Wind Model and on the asymmetry of the F layer peak height observed at the two locations confirms the ubiquitous role of the wind in the F-3 layer formation and/or persistence during both quiet and disturbed periods. The B0 parameter, that is a measure of the thickness of the bottomside F region profile, revealed to be a good proxy for the F-3 layer occurrence. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 14/11198-9 - Análise do Efeito de Campos Elétricos Perturbados nas Camadas Es em Regiões Equatoriais e de Baixas Latitudes
• Beneficiário: Láysa Cristina Araújo Resende Chagas
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 15/25357-4 - Climatologia das camadas intermediárias sobre o setor equatorial e de baixas latitudes brasileiras
• Beneficiário: Angela Machado dos Santos Valentim
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado