Electrodynamical control of the ambient ionization near the equatorial anomaly crest in the Indian zone during counter electrojet days

Abstract

The variability of ambient ionization near the crest of the equatorial anomaly on the days of counter electrojet (CEJ) is studied using a long‐term (1980–1990) database of total electron content (TEC) obtained from Calcutta (geographic: longitude, 88.38°E; latitude, 22.58°N; dip: 32°N), situated virtually below the northern crest of the equatorial anomaly, in conjunction with the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) data of the Indian subcontinent and foF2 data from the equatorial stations. On the days of CEJ events the diurnal variations of TEC exhibit deviations (decreases) from monthly mean values, but the feature is not regular throughout the observing period. A larger percentage of CEJ days show decreases in the descending phase (1980–1985) of solar cycle compared to the ascending one (1986–1990). During low to moderate solar activity years the ionosphere near the anomaly crest is found to be more susceptible to CEJ related equatorial electrodynamics than in the high solar activity periods. On the seasonal basis, though the solstitial months of ascending phase exhibit higher percentage occurrence of decreases, the feature is not so prominent in the descending epoch. An attempt is made to relate the decreases in TEC with the prevailing electrodynamics at the magnetic equator for which EEJ, under quiet geomagnetic conditions, may be treated as a proxy index. A statistical analysis reveals positive correlations of TEC decreases with strength and duration of CEJ but anticorrelations with rising slope, strength, and time‐integrated value of EEJ as well as initiation time of CEJ. To represent better correspondence of the TEC variability with the equatorial electrodynamics a function combining various EEJ parameters has been generated, which seems to exhibit significant association with TEC decreases on the days of CEJ events.