Dynamo Currents, Winds, and Electric Fields

Abstract

After a brief presentation of S q and L electric current systems deduced from geomagnetic data, electric conductivities and wind models in the dynamo region are discussed. It is then shown that the solar negative‐mode thermal diurnal tide and the lunar semidiurnal gravitational tide having a phase shift with altitudes produce the best fit S q and L current systems, respectively. Distributions of electrostatic fields are computed, and electromagnetic drift speeds in the ionospheric F region are also examined. These calculated values agree well with observed results.