EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Blanc et al. 1977
Blanc, M., Amayenc, P., Bauer, P. and Taieb, C. (1977). Electric field induced drifts from the French incoherent scatter facility. Journal of Geophysical Research 82: doi: 10.1029/JA082i001p00087. issn: 0148-0227.

The Saint-Santin facility has been operating in its quadristatic consiguration since October 1973. A set of 8 days and 7 nights (winter and equinox) of F region drift measurements perpendicular to the magnetic field is presented and provides information on the ionospheric electric fields. For quiet magnetic conditions the day-to-day variability is found to be weak, and the corresponding daily variations show the dominance of a 50 m/s diurnal oscillation in east-west drifts and of a 15-20 m/s terdiurnal oscillation in north-south drifts. None of the presently available models of quiet time electric fields have been found to reproduce this data over 24 hours. Comparison with other mid- and low-latitude electric field results shows a rather good agreement with incoherent scatter results south of Saint-Santin but a strong contrast with Millstone Hill results despite comparable geographic latitudes. For disturbed magnetic conditions, perpendicular drift velocities appear displaced from their quiet day values with a tendency to westward deviations. On some occasions those displacements reach large values of 100 m/s(4mV/m electric field) and more over 1 or 2 hours. An interpretation in terms of penetration of the plasmaphere by electric fields associated with magnetospheric substorms is suggested.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit