Latitudinal extent of the equatorial anomaly

Technical Report · Thu May 03 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6037136

Klobuchar, J A; Anderson, D N; Doherty, P H

The latitudinal extent of the equatorial anomaly has been studied using a theoretical model of the ionosphere which incorporates measured values of vertical E x B drift at the earth's magnetic equator. Realistic values of neutral winds are also included. The equatorial anomaly region, typically between plus and minus 20 degrees magnetic latitude, is that part of the world where the highest values of electron density and Total Electron Content, (TEC), normally occur, and hence is very important to high frequency propagation and to trans-ionospheric propagation effects. During the daytime, upward E x B drift at the magnetic equator drives the ionization across field lines to higher latitudes, causing crests in ionization to occur at approximately plus and minus 15 deg dip latitude. The latitude range over which the anomaly makes a significant difference in values of foF2 and TEC is calculated as a percent departure from the case with no equatorial electric field. Results from the model studies with different values of realistic electric fields show that the effects of the anomaly can be highly variable and widespread in latitude and local time.

• Research Organization: Air Force Geophysics Lab., Hanscom AFB, MA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6037136
• Report Number(s): AD-P-006304/0/XAB
• Resource Relation: Other Information: This article is from 'The Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Signals and Systems Performance Based on Ionospheric Effects Symposium Held on 1-3 May 1990', AD-A233 797, p366-378. Prepared in cooperation with Boston College, Institute for Space Research, Newton, MA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
DISTURBANCES
ELECTRIC FIELDS
GEOMAGNETIC EQUATOR
IONIZATION
LATITUDE EFFECT
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PLASMA DRIFT
WAVE PROPAGATION
WIND
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
VARIATIONS
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)