Electric fields in the ionosphere

Technical Report · Fri Oct 03 04:00:00 EDT 1975

OSTI ID:7240213

Kirchhoff, V W.J.H.

F-region drift velocities, measured by incoherent-scatter radar, were analyzed in terms of diurnal, seasonal, magnetic-activity, and solar-cycle effects. A comprehensive electric field model was developed that includes the effects of the E and F-region dynamos, magnetospheric sources, and ionospheric conductivities, for both the local and conjugate regions. The E-region dynamo dominates during the day, but at night the F-region and convection are more important. This model provides much better agreement with observations of the F-region drifts than previous models. Results indicate that larger magnitudes occur at night, and that daily variation is dominated by the diurnal mode. Seasonal variations in conductivities and thermospheric winds indicate a reversal in direction in the early morning during winter from south to northward. On magnetic perturbed days the drifts deviate rather strongly from the quiet days average, especially around 13 L.T. for the northward and 18 L.T. for the westward component. (auth)

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park (USA). Ionosphere Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7240213
• Report Number(s): N-76-10609
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANNUAL VARIATIONS
CONVECTION
CURRENTS
DAILY VARIATIONS
DISTURBANCES
E REGION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ENERGY TRANSFER
F REGION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
HEAT TRANSFER
ION DRIFT
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOSPHERE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLAR CYCLE
THERMOSPHERE
VARIATIONS
WIND