Physics Commons^™

Equatorial F-Regionvertical Plasma Drifts During Solar Maxima, Bela G. Fejer, E. R. De Paula, I. S. Batista, E. Bonelli, R. F. Woodman

Bela G. Fejer

Incoherent scatter radar measurements at Jicamarca are used to study the effects of large solar fluxes and magnetic activity on the F region vertical plasma drifts. The average drifts from the two last solar maxima are almost identical except in the late afternoon-early evening sector where their variations with solar flux and magnetic activity are strongly season dependent. The average evening winter (May-August) drifts appear to remain almost constant after a certain solar flux level is reached but increase with magnetic activity. The equinoctial evening drifts increase systematically with solar-flux but decrease with magnetic activity. Very large prereversal enhancement velocities, …