A Statistical Study of Horizontal Drifts and Anisotropy of Irregularities in the F2 Region

Abstract

An investigation into the behavior of horizontal drifts and anisotropy of irregularities in the F2 region of the ionosphere was made with the original pulse fading drift records obtained from Waltair, Yamagawa, DeBilt, and Halley Bay during the period of the IGY. A full correlation analysis was used in deducing the drift and anisotropy parameters. Harmonic analysis was adopted to isolate the periodic components of the drift velocities. A systematic variation in most of the drift and anisotropy parameters was observed from equatorial to high latitude stations with the exception of the polar regions. Harmonic analysis of the drift velocities showed that the semidiurnal component was predominant at all the stations except Waltair. The sense of rotation was clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern. The results were compared with those of the earlier investigators at different latitudes.