Study of the Equatorial Ionosphere: The Equatorial Evening Minimum in the Total Electron Content of the Ionosphere and Its Role in Equatorial Scintillation.

Abstract

A minimum in the total electron content of the equatorial ionosphere frequently appears shortly after sunset in measurements of Faraday rotation made at Legon, Ghana (latitude 5.63 deg N, longitude -0.19 deg E, magnetic dip 8 deg S). This paper describes the phenomenon and investigates its occurrence characteristics over a period of six years. It concludes that the effect is due to a transport phenomenon described as a 'circulation cell' which follows the sunset line. This circulation is not considered to be the primary cause of the production of irregularities in the night time F region, but the mechanism is thought to contribute both to the intensity and the duration of the resulting scintillation. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 30, 1977
Accession Number
ADA050647

Entities

People

  • John R. Koster

Organizations

  • University of Ghana

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Amplitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Cells
  • Coordinate Systems
  • Cycles
  • Electrons
  • Elevation
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Intensity
  • Ionization
  • Ionosphere
  • Latitude
  • Longitude
  • Low Elevation
  • Magnetic Disturbances
  • Observation

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics