A longitudinal variation of electron drift velocity in the equatorial electrojet

Abstract

Measurements of electron drift velocity in the equatorial electrojet near the Peruvian coast indicate that the velocities to the west of the observatory are normally greater than those to the east. This is true during the day when the electrons are drifting westward, as well as at night when the drift is reversed. Possible explanations include the effect of the underlying land-sea boundary about 35 km west of the observatory and small local magnetic anomalies that alter the local dip angle.