Equatorial Electrojet Variations Research Articles

Anomalous Disturbance of the Ionosphere in the East Asia Region During the Geomagnetically Quiet Day on 1 November 2016

AbstractIn this study, multiple data sets from Beidou geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) satellite, ionosonde, magnetometer, Swarm satellite, and meteor radar were used to investigate an anomalous disturbance of the ionosphere in East Asia on 1 November 2016. During 03:00–08:00 universal time (UT), the total electron content (TEC) observed by the Beidou GEO satellite decreased by up to 8.17% at low latitudes and increased by up to 140.19% at middle to low latitudes in East Asia compared to the average TEC on the reference days. The F2 peak electron density (NmF2) measured by ionosondes decreased by 16.00% at Sanya (109.4°E, 18.3°N) and increased by 51.96% and 53.97% at Wuhan (114.4°E, 30.5°N) and Shaoyang (111.3°E, 27.1°N), respectively. The equatorial electric field (EEF) observed by the Swarm satellite at 06:59 UT on 1 November was approximately 77.57% higher than on 4 November. The variations of equatorial electrojet near 100°E and 120°E on 1 November presented an east‐west asymmetry in which there was a significant enhancement in the east while there was no obvious increase in the west. The TEC enhancement derived by the Center for Orbit Determination in Europe also showed the same east‐west asymmetry in the two longitudes. Based on the comprehensive analysis of multiple observational data, the increase in EEF caused the ionospheric TEC and NmF2 to decrease at low latitudes and increase at middle to low latitudes in East Asia during 03:00–08:00 UT on 1 November 2016. The lower atmospheric tidal forcing could contribute to the enhancement of the EEF.

Analysis of local geomagnetic index under the influence of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) at the equatorial Phuket geomagnetic station in Thailand

The local K-index is an important proxy to monitor geomagnetic disturbances due to the solar wind in space weather study. The diurnal variation of geomagnetic fields observed in the magnetic equatorial region is dominated by the equatorial electrojet (EEJ), and the variation of EEJ is directly related to the local ionospheric dynamics; therefore, in this work, the local K-index is generated by based on the geomagnetic field measurement at an equatorial geomagnetic station in Phuket, Thailand and the effects of EEJ on the computed local K-indices are analyzed. At each station, an L9 (the lower limit for K = 9) value is set to develop a conversion table between the magnetic range scales and K-indices, and that L9 value must be assigned based on the characterization of the geomagnetic variations at that station. In this work, suitable L9 values are determined by analyzing the distributions of the local K-index and the planetary geomagnetic index, Kp-index. According to the results in the present study, the L9 value of 500 nT can provide local K-indices that can classify the geomagnetic disturbances more correctly. The results show that 40% of the local K-index is consistent with the Kp-index, and about 45% of the local K indices are ±1 deviated from Kp-indices. It is found that using the suitable L9 value can partially control the EEJ’s dominance on K-index. Moreover, we investigated the seasonal and day-to-day variability of the diurnal variation of the geomagnetic fields from the Phuket station. Upon reviewing the data, the equatorial geomagnetic field variations were consistent with the planetary geomagnetic activity levels, and the day-to-day changes of the daytime field amplitudes were relatively high in the high solar activity year and moderate in the low solar activity year.

THE STUDY OF LONGITUDINAL AND LATITUDINAL VARIATION OF EQUATORIAL ELECTROJET SIGNATURE AT STATIONS WITHIN THE 96°MM AND 210°MM AFRICAN AND ASIAN SECTORS RESPECTIVELY UNDER QUIET CONDITIONS.

Solar quiet current (S_q) and Equatorial Electrojet (EEJ) are two current systems which are produced by electric current in the ionosphere. The enhancement of the horizontal magnetic field is the EEJ. This research is needed for monitoring equatorial geomagnetic current which causes atmospheric instabilities and affects high frequency and satellite communication. This study presents the longitudinal and latitudinal variation of equatorial electrojet signature at stations within the 96°mm and 210°mm African and Asian sectors respectively during quiet condition. Data from eleven observatories were used for this study. The objectives was to determine the longitudinal and latitudinal geomagnetic field variations during solar quiet conditions, Investigate monthly variation and diurnal transient seasonal variation; Measure the strength of the EEJ at stations within the same longitudinal sectors and find out the factors responsible for the longitudinal and latitudinal variation of EEJ. Horizontal (H) component of geomagnetic field for the year 2008 from Magnetic Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS) network were used for the study. The International Quiet Days (IQDs) were used to identify quiet days. Daily baseline values for each of the geomagnetic element H were obtained. The monthly average of the diurnal variation was found. The seasonal variation of dH was found. Results showed that: The longitudinal and latitudinal variation in the dH differs in magnitude from one station to another within the same longitude due to the difference in the influence of the EEJ on them.

Ionospheric Response Over Brazil to the August 2018 Geomagnetic Storm as Probed by CSES‐01 and Swarm Satellites and by Local Ground‐Based Observations

AbstractThe geomagnetic storm that occurred on 25 August 25 2018, that is, during the minimum of solar cycle 24, is currently the strongest ever probed by the first China Seismo‐Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES‐01). By integrating the in situ measurements provided by CSES‐01 (orbiting at altitude of 507 km) and by Swarm A satellite (orbiting at ca., 460 km) with ground‐based observations (ionosondes, magnetometers, and Global Navigation Satellite System receivers), we investigate the ionospheric response at lower‐ and mid‐latitudes over Brazil. Specifically, we investigate the electrodynamic disturbances driven by solar wind changes, by focusing on the disturbances driving modifications of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ). Our proposed multisensor technique analysis mainly highlights the variations in the topside and bottomside ionosphere, and the interplay between prompt penetrating electric fields and disturbance dynamo electric fields resulting in EEJ variations. Thanks to this approach and leveraging on the newly available CSES‐01 data, we complement and extend what recently investigated in the Western South American sector, by highlighting the significant longitudinal differences, which mainly come from the occurrence of a daytime counter‐EEJ during both 25 and 26 August at Braziliian longitudes and during part of 26 August only in the Peruvian sector. In addition, the increased thermospheric circulation driven by the storm has an impact on the EEJ during the recovery phase of the storm. The observations at the CSES‐01/Swarm altitudes integrated with the ground‐based observation recorded signatures of equatorial ionospheric anomaly crests formation and modification during daytime coupled with the positive ionospheric storm effects at midlatitude.

English

Variations of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) in six Magnetic Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS) stations (four stations within the magnetic equator region and two stations outside the region) on the 210oMagnetic Meridian (MM) chain were examined. Data of hourly values of horizontal component of magnetic field, H in the year 2007 for Cooktown (CKT), Amami-oh-Shima (AMA), Davao (DAV), Langkawi (LKW), Yap- Island (YAP) and Cebu (CEB) were used in the study. The electrojet current was studied using both the estimation method and Fambitakoye simulation model to determine the correlation between their results. The strength of equatorial electrojet in the stations were estimated with respect to Cooktown (CKT; 15.48°N, 145.25°E), a station located outside the electrojet region. The maximum electrojet strength was observed in the month of March in Davao (DAV), Cebu (CEB) and Langkawi (LKW) with values of 107.5, 88.5 and 64.08 nT, respectively. The model simulation of EEJ current presents maximum values of 237.9, 207 and 160 nT in DAV, CEB and LKW, respectively in the same month. This result establishes a similarity in the performance of the methods but with higher values in the model performance. A linear correlation analysis between them showed average correlation coefficient values of 0.81 in Yap-Island (YAP), 0.84 in LKW, 0.6 in DAV and 0.54 in CEB. The data also show variability in EEJ, with results showing higher EEJ current magnitude for stations closer to the dip equator. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was carried out to determine the suitability of the model for in the four seasons for each station. Result shows that the model performed better for March equinox in Cebu (3.58) and Yap-Island (5.97), December solstice (8.96) and September equinox in Davao and Langkawi (6.55), respectively. Key words: Equatorial electrojet, dip equator, magnetic data acquisition system (MAGDAS), Fambitakoye model, E-region, solar quiet.

An Opposite Response of the Low‐Latitude Ionosphere at Asian and American Sectors During Storm Recovery Phases: Drivers From Below or Above

AbstractIn this study, we focus on the recovery phase of a geomagnetic storm that happened on 6–11 September 2017. The ground‐based total electron content data, as well as the F region in situ electron density, measured by the Swarm satellites show an interesting feature, revealing at low and equatorial latitudes on the dayside ionosphere prominent positive and negative responses at the Asian and American longitudinal sectors, respectively. The global distribution of thermospheric O/N2 ratio measured by global ultraviolet imager on board the Thermosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics satellite cannot well explain such longitudinally opposite response of the ionosphere. Comparison between the equatorial electrojet variations from stations at Huancayo in Peru and Davao in the Philippines suggests that the longitudinally opposite ionospheric response should be closely associated with the interplay of E region electrodynamics. By further applying nonmigrating tidal analysis to the ground‐based total electron content data, we find that the diurnal tidal components, D0 and DW2, as well as the semidiurnal component SW1, are clearly enhanced over prestorm days and persist into the early recovery phase, indicating the possibility of lower atmospheric forcing contributing to the longitudinally opposite response of the ionosphere on 9–11 September 2017.

Day‐to‐day variability of equatorial electrojet and its role on the day‐to‐day characteristics of the equatorial ionization anomaly over the Indian and Brazilian sectors

AbstractThe equatorial electrojet (EEJ) is a narrow band of current flowing eastward at the ionospheric E region altitudes along the dayside dip equator. Mutually perpendicular electric and magnetic fields over the equator results in the formation of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), which in turn generates large electron density variabilities. Simultaneous study on the characteristics of EEJ and EIA is necessary to understand the role of EEJ on the EIA variabilities. This is helpful for the improved estimation of total electron content (TEC) and range delays required for satellite‐based communication and navigation applications. Present study reports simultaneous variations of EEJ and GPS‐TEC over Indian and Brazilian sectors to understand the role of EEJ on the day‐to‐day characteristics of the EIA. Magnetometer measurements during the low solar activity year 2004 are used to derive the EEJ values over the two different sectors. The characteristics of EIA are studied using two different chains of GPS receivers along the common meridian of 77°E (India) and 45°W (Brazil). The diurnal, seasonal, and day‐to‐day variations of EEJ and TEC are described simultaneously. Variations of EIA during different seasons are presented along with the variations of the EEJ in the two hemispheres. The role of EEJ variations on the characteristic features of the EIA such as the strength and temporal extent of the EIA crest has also been reported. Further, the time delay between the occurrences of the day maximum EEJ and the well‐developed EIA is studied and corresponding results are presented in this paper.

Variations of equatorial electrojet as possible seismo-ionospheric precursor at the occurrence of TEC anomalies before strong earthquake

The measurements of GPS signal delays show that the local areas of increased/decreased Total Electron Content ( TEC) of the ionosphere can be observed before strong earthquakes. The main possible cause of these TEC disturbances is the vertical plasma drift under the action of zonal electric field. The spatial pattern of electric potentials for such electric field was proposed. The model calculations were done to investigate the efficiency of the proposed mechanism. The calculation results revealed the agreement with TEC variations observed before strong earthquakes and showed that the equatorial electrojet variations can be considered as precursors of earthquakes.

Features of the magnetic field of the equatorial electrojet determined from experimental data for the South-Eastern Asia region

Abstract Experimental data, obtained in Vietnam, have been used for studying the solar-diurnal variations of the magnetic field in the equatorial electrojet region and for comparing them with the worldwide part of Sq-variations. The features of equatorial electrojet variations were investigated at different stages, from their appearance in the morning, to their decline in the evening and their disappearance at night. The character of dip equatorial variations on days of a reverse jet electric current is considered. It is shown that eastward electrojet currents in the daytime ionosphere gradually decay far into the night. The question of a shift of the electrojet axis during the day is examined.