On the height variation of the equatorial F region vertical plasma drifts

Journal Article · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA05p04763· OSTI ID:5398615

Pingree, J E; Fejer, B G ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

The authors have used improved incoherent scatter radar measurements at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory to study the height variation of the F region vertical plasma drift velocity (driven by the zonal electric field) during moderately quiet conditions. Preliminary results indicate a nearly linear change of the vertical drift velocity with altitude between 200 and 700 km, but with considerable day-to-day variations in the value of the slope. On the average, the velocity gradients are positive in the late night and morning periods and negative during the afternoon and evening hours. Simultaneous vertical and zonal drift measurements confirm that the measured height variation of the vertical drift is consistent with the existence of a curl free electric field in the low latitude ionosphere. The time dependence of the Jicamarca vertical drifts extrapolated to higher altitudes closely resembles the diurnal variation of the drift component due to the zonal electric field observed at F region heights over Arecibo.

• OSTI ID: 5398615
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 92:A5; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DIMENSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC FIELDS
EQUATOR
F REGION
HEIGHT
IONOSPHERE
LEVELS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DRIFT
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
TIME DEPENDENCE
VARIATIONS
VELOCITY