Comparison of low‐latitude ion and neutral zonal drifts using DE 2 data

Abstract

We have used data from the ion drift meter and the wind and temperature spectrometer on the DE 2 spacecraft to make statistical comparisons of the zonal ion and neutral drifts at dip latitudes (DLAT) in the ±35° range over all local times. Fourier analysis indicates that the superrotation and the diurnal components of both flows are strongly peaked at the dip equator, with the superrotation term becoming negative for |DLAT| ≥20°. One interesting feature is the presence of a period (2200‐0500 solar local time) in the 300‐400 km altitude region near the dip equator where the ion drift is more strongly eastward than the neutral flow. This would seem to indicate the presence of an electric field source of greater strength than the F region dynamo elsewhere along the geomagnetic field line. Model calculations indicate that a possible mechanism for this source lies in the vertical shear in the zonal neutral wind in the 100‐200 km altitude region.