Spatial and temporal distribution of ionospheric currents-3: latitude- local time and latitude- Longitude across section of Equatorial Electrojet current density and intensity

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of the POGO satellites data of 1967 1969 has enabled us to present the daytime means, based on 09 hr to 15 hr, at each of 36 longitudes, and the all-longitude means at each of 7 local time hours, for each of 9 parameters of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) necessary for the cross sections. The latitude-local time cross sections of EEJ current density and intensity each displays three contour cells. The forward current contour cell peaks at (12h, 00.) and the return current contour cells peak at (12h, 5.130N) and (12h, 5.130S). The latitude-longitude cross sections of EEJ current density and intensity each displays nine contour cells. The three forward current contour cells peat at (00, 1000E), (00, 1900E) and (00, 2900E). The three return current contour cells to the north peak at (5.350N, 1000E), (5,050N, 1900E) and (5.300, 2900E), while the three to peak at (5.350S, 1000), (5.050S, 1900E), while the three to the south peak at (5.350S, 1000E), (5.050S, 1900E) and (5,300S, 290E). The return current spreads thinly over an area of about four times the area of the forward current. Consequently, the ratio of the peak return current density or intensity to the peak forward current density or intensity is only about one quarter. On the average the percentage ratio is 23.25 0.41. Arising from the decrease of EEJ with latitude while at the same time it increases everywhere as the peak current at the magnetic dip equator increases, the cross sections show that the contours extend farther in latitude when the peak current at the dip equator is larger.
Key Words: latitude local time, latitude. longitude cross sections, current density, and intensity inonospheric currents.


(Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences: 2002 8(3): 361-370)