Evolution of equatorial irregularities under varying electrodynamical conditions: A multitechnique case study from Indian longitude zone

Abstract

A comprehensive multitechnique study on the postsunset evolutions of equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) and equatorial plasma density irregularities in the context of the varying electrodynamical conditions under normal equatorial electrojet (EEJ), complete and partial counter electrojet (CEJ) events is presented from the Indian longitude zone. The study involves analysis of scintillation data at VHF (250 MHz) and GPS L1 (1575.42 MHz) frequency, ionosonde data, magnetometer data along with global ionospheric maps (GIMs) of total electron content (TEC) for the vernal equinoctial months (March–April) of 2011. The investigation reveals inefficiency of the noontime peak EEJ to dictate the day-to-day variability of postsunset irregularity phenomena. Intensification of EEJ after ∼1530 IST (Indian standard time) on normal EEJ days and significantly enhanced residual fields presumably due to CEJ event after ∼1700 IST on complete and partial CEJ days are found to be associated with the resurgence of EIA and evolution of postsunset irregularities. The results are discussed in terms of superposition effects of electric fields arising from E- and F- region dynamos.