Effect of IMF parameters on F-region drift velocity over low latitude

Abstract

The effects of various interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters on midnight values of N-S and E-W drift velocity of F-region are studied using the spaced receivers ionospheric drift data collected over a low latitude station, Udaipur (geomagn. lat. 14.5° N), during different seasons of high solar activity period. It is found that both N-S and E-W drift speeds

are strongly influenced by the N-S component of IMF. However, the total IMF showed more effect on N-S drift speed as compared to E-W drift. The control of sunward and E-W component s on the drift parameters is found to be insignificant. The control of IMF parameters on drift velocity was more prominent in winter compared to other seasons. The present findings have been interpreted in terms of generation of additional electric field at magnetospheric height and its transmission to equatorial ionosphere via polar latitude through a parallel plane transmission line made up of the earth and ionosphere waveguide.