Electrodynamics in the low and middle latitude ionosphere: a tutorial

Electric fields in the low and middle latitude ionosphere result from currents driven internally by neutral winds and gravity, and externally by applied potentials. The resulting internal electric polarization fields arise from the need to make the total current divergence free. By considering the c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics 2004-07, Vol.66 (10), p.825-838
Main Author: Heelis, R.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
External geophysics
Ionosphere electrodynamics
Physics of the high neutral atmosphere
Physics of the ionosphere
Physics of the magnetosphere
Wind dynamo
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Summary:Electric fields in the low and middle latitude ionosphere result from currents driven internally by neutral winds and gravity, and externally by applied potentials. The resulting internal electric polarization fields arise from the need to make the total current divergence free. By considering the current drivers many of the attributes of the observed ion and electron drifts can be understood including the E- and F-region dynamos, the initial growth of ionospheric depletions, and effects from high latitudes. Such an exercise leads to an overall understanding of the governing principles. However, it is necessary to know all the large-scale spatial gradients in the drivers, many of which are presently unknown, in order to unravel the outstanding mysteries of the electrodynamics of the region.
ISSN:1364-6826
1879-1824
DOI:10.1016/j.jastp.2004.01.034