Abstract
Geomagnetic field line resonances may be identified in ground magnetometer data by comparing the difference in amplitude and phase of signals recorded at two closely spaced sites or by examining the latitudinal variation in polarization properties across a more extended array. These two methods give comparable results for values of the resonant frequency and width at low latitudes (L < 3). We have also found an upper limit for the damping factor, γ∼0.07 at L=1.8, by applying a damped simple harmonic oscillator model. The field line resonance structure observed in 5 weeks of data showed only one resonant frequency at L=1.8 but up to four harmonies concurrently at L=2.8. An early local morning decrease in eigenfrequency was usually present at L=1.8. This is attributed to dynamic heavy ion mass loading effects in the ionosphere where the plasma density increases around dawn. The observed eigenfrequencies were used to evaluate two plasma density models. Calculations using a combined IRI‐90 and diffusive equilibrium (DE) model gave eigenfrequencies which are considerably smaller than the experimentally observed values at both L=1.8 and L=2.8. Furthermore, the calculated harmonic spacings at L=2.8 do not agree with the experimental values, although the diurnal trends were successfully modeled using the IRI‐DE plasma description. The low‐latitude plasma density model described by Bailey (1983) yields eigenfrequencies which show good agreement with the experimentally observed values at both latitudes.
Published Version
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