Response of Ionospheric Profile Parameters to Equatorial Electrojet Over Peruvian Station

Abstract

AbstractThe response of the ionospheric bottomside electron density profile parameters of the F2 layer, namely, the maximum electron density (NmF2), the maximum height of F2 layer (hmF2), and bottomside thickness (B0) parameter to the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current is examined for a Peruvian location at the Jicamarca station (12 °S, 76.9 °W) in the South American sector. The results of the analysis show that both hmF2 and B0 increase for ~2 h before sunrise and exhibit a postsunset peak during the equinoctial and summer months. The increase in the peak height, hmF2, is observed to terminate before midday, while B0 continued to increase throughout the daytime. The apparent midday and postnoon peaks in NmF2 occur in all the seasons under study. It was demonstrated that a relationship exists between EEJ and the profile parameters hmF2 and B0 during low and moderate solar conditions. Conversely, the correlation coefficient between EEJ and NmF2 is statistically significant only during solar minimum conditions but correlates poorly, if at all, with EEJ during moderate solar activity.