Effects of electrical coupling on equatorial ionospheric plasma motions: When is the F region a dominant driver in the low-latitude dynamo

Journal Article · Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92JA02195· OSTI ID:6499081

Crain, D J ^[1]; Heelis, R A ^[2]; Bailey, G J ^[3]

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1. Utah State Univ., Logan (United States)
2. Univ. of Texas, Dallas (United States)
3. Univ. of Sheffield (United Kingdom)

The authors address the role of the conductivity of the F region on the observed plasma drift and dynamo motion in the equatorial ionosphere. It has been known for a long time that neutral winds in both the E and F regions can have a major impact on electric fields in these regions, which in turn are responsible for plasma drifts seen there. The authors authors argue that the F region conductivity is important not only to the generation of current in the F region, but to providing closure to currents generated in other regions. The orientation of the neutral winds in the E and F regions relative to the magnetic field plays a role in their impact on electric field generation. They conclude that the zonal F region wind (ionospheric, above [approximately] 150 km) has a major impact on electric fields and plasma drifts in the equatorial region at altitudes from 400 to 800 km, for all local times and solar activities. They argue that it may be incorrect to decouple the E and F regions too strongly, which can overemphasize the role of E region zonal winds. It may be more important to correlate the local magnetic field line measurements in modeling low and mid latitude plasma drift and current phenomena.

• OSTI ID: 6499081
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Vol. 98:A4; ISSN 0148-0227
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
F REGION
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
WIND
IONOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
PLASMA DRIFT
E REGION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)