Electric fields in the low latitude F-region

Abstract

The nighttime equatorial F-region zonal electric field E yF has been deduced from h′ F data at Trivandrum, a magnetic equatorial station in the Indian longitude sector. The nocturnal variation of E yF in different seasons in high and low solar activity periods is presented. It is found that the nocturnal variation of E yF at Trivandrum is quite different in solstices and in high solar activity periods from that in equinox and low solar activity periods. A linear relationship is established between the pre-reversal peak of E yF and 10.7 cm solar flux for the different seasons. The behaviour of E yF at Trivandrum is compared with that reported at Jicamarca, an equatorial station in American longitude sector.