Lunar tidal effects in the electrodynamics of the low latitude ionosphere

Fejer, Bela G.; Tracy, Brian D.

Lunar tidal effects in the electrodynamics of the low latitude ionosphere

Abstract

The low latitude ionosphere is highly variable over a large range of temporal and spatial scales even during geomagnetically quiet periods, largely as a result of electrodynamic plasma drift effects. Several recent experimental and modeling studies have investigated the electrodynamic response of the low latitude ionosphere to high latitude and lower atmospheric wave activity, particularly during sudden stratospheric warmings. In this work, we review some recent results on the short-term variability of equatorial vertical plasma drifts measured mostly at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory and their effects on equatorial short-scale spread F irregularities. We show that lunar tidal semidiurnal and diurnal effects, which have been largely ignored in most studies, can play significant roles in low latitude ionospheric variability.

Date

2013-02-04

Keywords

Low latitude electric fields , Lower atmospheric coupling , Ionospheric electrodynamics

Citation

Fejer, B. G., & Tracy, B. D. (2013). Lunar tidal effects in the electrodynamics of the low latitude ionosphere. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 103, 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2013.01.008