Nighttime electron density enhancements at middle and low latitudes in East Asia

Abstract

Nighttime enhancements in ionospheric electron density at mid- and low-latitudes are investigated by using the critical frequency of the F2-layer (foF2) data measured from ionosonde stations at Okinawa (26.3°N, 127.8°E, Geomagnetic 15.3°N), Yamagawa (31.2°N, 130.6°E, Geomagnetic 20.4°N), Kokubunji (35.7°N, 139.5°E, Geomagnetic 25.5°N), and Wakkanai (45.4°N, 141.7°E, Geomagnetic 35.4°N) in East Asia during several solar cycles. The results show that there are obvious seasonal and solar activity dependencies of the nighttime electron density enhancements. The enhancements are termed pre-midnight enhancement and post-midnight enhancement, according to the local time when the enhancement appeared. The former has a higher occurrence probability in summer months than in winter months. In contrast, the latter has a larger occurrence probability in winter months than in summer months. Moreover, the nighttime enhancements in electron density are more likely to occur at lower solar activity. These seasonal and solar activity variations of the nighttime enhancements in electron density can be explained in terms of the combined effects of downward plasma flux from the plasmasphere and the neutral winds.