Abstract
Abstract. In this paper we estimate zonal plasma drift in the equatorial ionospheric F region without counting on ion drift meters. From June 2001 to June 2004 zonal plasma drift velocity is estimated from electron, neutral, and magnetic field observations of Challenging Mini-satellite Payload (CHAMP) in the 09:00–20:00 LT sector. The estimated velocities are validated against ion drift measurements by the Republic of China Satellite-1/Ionospheric Plasma and Electrodynamics Instrument (ROCSAT-1/IPEI) during the same period. The correlation between the CHAMP (altitude ~ 400 km) estimates and ROCSAT-1 (altitude ~ 600 km) observations is reasonably high (R ≈ 0.8). The slope of the linear regression is close to unity. However, the maximum westward drift and the westward-to-eastward reversal occur earlier for CHAMP estimates than for ROCSAT-1 measurements. In the equatorial F region both zonal wind and plasma drift have the same direction. Both generate vertical currents but with opposite signs. The wind effect (F region wind dynamo) is generally larger in magnitude than the plasma drift effect (Pedersen current generated by vertical E field), thus determining the direction of the F region vertical current.
Highlights
For that reason the Challenging Mini-Satellite Payload (CHAMP) data of June 2001–June 2004 are binned in cells of 3◦ in magnetic latitude (MLAT), 20◦ in geographic longitude (GLON), and 1 h in local time (LT)
As discussed in the preceding paragraphs, vy measured by ROCSAT-1 and that estimated by CHAMP exhibit some discrepancies in the local times of vy reversal and of maximum www.ann-geophys.net/31/1035/2013/
For the period from June 2001 to June 2004 the estimated values are validated against ion drift measurements by ROCSAT-1/Ionospheric Plasma and Electrodynamics Instrument (IPEI), and are compared with results from previous ionospheric studies
Summary
Ing the F region, the plasma density is one of the most es- England and Immel, 2012). Some of the other extensive studsential parameters because it determines the reflection height ies, which covered the dayside climatology, used groundof various radio waves (e.g. Chen et al, 2H01y1d), raoffleoctgs ytheandbased instrumentation at a fixed geoHgryapdhrioc lloocgatiyona(en.gd. Fephase delay of al., 2013), and wdiasvtuerbssigcnoamlsm(eu.ngi.cJaetieonetlianl.kE,s2a(0e0r.g4t.h; BNSaosjyua seetttemjpelrasemt aal.d,r2if0t,0e5s)p. Al al., 1988, 2001; Nishioka et al, 2011; Manju et alS., c20ie11n).ces.
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