Large-scale ionospheric disturbances due to the dissipation of convectively-generated gravity waves over Brazil

In this paper, we show that these fluid perturbations cause large-scale perturbations of the plasma drift and plasma density in the ionosphere by changing the wind dynamo and transport. These fluid perturbations modify both the amplitude and direction of the plasma drifts.

Near the geomagnetic equator, the magnitude of the pre-reversal enhancement can be increased or weakened, depending on the location and local time. Because the circulation cells persist from late afternoon through midnight, the modulation of the vertical drift near the geomagnetic equator persists until midnight. The largest changes of the wind-driven currents can occur either in the E or F region and are determined by the magnitudes of the wind perturbations, conductivities, and conductivity perturbations.