Intermediate Layers responses to Geomagnetic Activity During the 2009
Deep Solar Minimum Over the Brazilian Low Latitude Sector
Abstract
Intermediate layers (ILs) are regions of enhanced electron density
located in the ionospheric valley that extends from the peak altitude of
the daytime E-region to the bottom side of the F-region. This work
presents the daytime behavior of the ILs parameters (the virtual height
- h’IL, and the top frequency - ftIL) for the deepest solar minimum of
the last 500 years. In such a unique condition, this research reveals
for the first time the ILs’ quiet state seasonal behavior as well as its
responses to moderate changes in the geomagnetic activity. Among the
finds, it is highlight the annual periodicity of the ftIL while the h’IL
presents semiannual component. The results also show that even small
variations of geomagnetic activity (quantified by the planetary Kp
index) are able to modify the dynamics of the ILs parameters. For the
first time, it was observed that during December solstice and September
equinox, the h’IL/ftIL decrease/increase rapidly with the increase of
geomagnetic activity at the beginning of the day. As the day progresses,
smoothed rise in the h’IL is observed at the same time in which a
considerable decrease in the ftIL occurs, except during June solstice
when a different behavior is observed both in relation to the annual as
the seasonal average values of the ftIL.