Daytime vertical E × B drift can be derived from difference of H‐component magnetic field measurements (ΔH) using a pair of low‐latitude and equatorial latitude magnetometer stations. Knowledge of E × B drift is of utmost importance in space weather‐related predictions since it can significantly affect ionospheric density structures and dynamics. For the first time, we developed a quantitative relationship between equatorial electrojet (ΔH) and vertical E × B drift over the African region using magnetometer data and E × B drift observations from the Communication and Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite during local daytime (0700–1800 LT) from 2008 to 2013 when magnetometer data were available. Additionally, we have constructed vertical E × B drift models over the African sector based on C/NOFS vertical E × B drift data and relevant physical and geophysical inputs. Validating using data not included in model development, our model estimated C/NOFS vertical E × B drift with correlation coefficient values of 0.85 and 0.56 during quiet and disturbed conditions, respectively. The daily pattern of the E × B drift velocity is consistent between the developed model based on C/NOFS data and the climatological Scherliess‐Fejer model. However, the Scherliess‐Fejer model generally overestimated C/NOFS vertical E × B drift (in most cases) with a correlation coefficient of 0.54 during quiet conditions.
We report on the development of a new mathematical expression to estimate local daytime (0700–1700 LT) vertical E × B drift in low latitudes using a combination of ground‐based magnetometer measurements and Communications and Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite observations. The expression was developed over Jicamarca (11.8°S, 77.2°W; 0.8°N geomagnetic) and validated with Jicamarca Unattended Long‐Term studies of the Ionosphere and Atmosphere (JULIA) mode and incoherent scatter radar (ISR) measurements during the period 2008–2014. The obtained correlation coefficient (R) values computed using observed and derived vertical E × B drift velocities are 0.79 and 0.84 for ISR and JULIA, respectively when data are available during 2008–2014. Storm‐time comparison between observed and derived vertical E × B drift velocities agreed well with R of 0.92 and 0.87 during 5–8 August 2011 and 8–11 March 2012 geomagnetic storm periods for ISR and JULIA observations, respectively. Overall, we found that the developed expression is applicable in estimating vertical E × B drift response during quiet and geomagnetic storm periods. Based on these findings, we suggest that it is possible to develop accurate daytime global vertical E × B drift model over the equatorial latitude regions using inexpensive magnetometer observations and available satellite data.
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