The dependence of four-peak longitudinal structure of the tropical electric field on the processes in the lower atmosphere and geomagnetic field configuration

Abstract

In this article, we estimate the influence of the atmospheric-ionospheric interaction and the differences in the location of the geographic and geomagnetic poles on the longitudinal variability of the ionospheric electric field in the vicinity of the geomagnetic equator. For the study, we applied the upper atmosphere model (GSM TIP) and the recently created entire atmosphere model (EAGLE). The simulation results confirm that the four-peak structure of the longitudinal variation and the pre-reversal enhancement of the eastward electric field at the equator are caused by the atmosphere-ionosphere coupling. The role of F-region dynamo in the formation of pre-reversal enhancement of the eastward electric field is beyond the scope of this paper. These structures appear during the minimum of solar activity periods and are formed by the longitudinal variations of the horizontal thermospheric wind and the Pedersen conductivity arising from the action of the mesospheric tides. During solar activity minimum periods, the difference in the locations of geographic and geomagnetic poles leads to some complication and smoothing of the obtained picture of longitudinal variations in the electric field. We suggest that mesospheric tides have a significant effect on the longitudinal variation of the Pedersen conductivity, while the longitudinal variation of the Hall conductivity is mainly determined by the mismatch of geographic and geomagnetic poles. The amplitudes of the equatorial electric field longitudinal variations are three to four times smaller than the amplitudes of their diurnal variations, however, they can have a significant impact on the spatial distribution of the electron density in the F region of the low-latitude ionosphere.