Low latitude ionospheric plasma drift features in China

Ionospheric plasma drift data in Hainan during the period of from Mar 2002 to Mar 2004 are analyzed to investigate the low-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics. Results show that variation of daytime vertical drift is regular and independent on season, generally the vertical plasma drift is about 0-20 m/s and dependent on season, nighttime vertical plasma drift is usually downward and its variation is very complicated, which varies with season; Horizontal plasma drift is about 50-100 m/s and at sunset and sunrise increasing up to about 150-200 m/s, even as high as 300 m/s, and the meridian and zonal plasma drifts are different. Compared with plasma drift observation in Jicamarca ionospheric observatory, ionospheric drift in Hainan shows distinct territorial features.EI04482-4862