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The intensity of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) derived from the magnetic field measurements by the China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) is analyzed for the low solar activity period of July 2018–April 2022. The CSES spacecraft flies in a Sun-synchronous orbit, providing the first continuous satellite observations of the afternoon EEJ at a fixed local time at 2 p.m. The EEJ intensities from CSES and concurrent observations from the Swarm satellite mission show a good correlation, supporting the reliability of the CSES EEJ data. Spectral analysis of the CSES data reveals the presence of three distinct oscillatory components in the day-to-day variation of the afternoon EEJ: (1) an eastward-propagating 2–3-day oscillation with zonal wavenumber 1, (2) a westward-propagating 5–6-day oscillation with zonal wavenumber 1, and (3) a zonally-symmetric 14–15-day oscillation. These oscillations result from upward-propagating waves in the atmosphere. That is, the first two can be attributed to the ultra-fast Kelvin wave and quasi-6-day wave, respectively, while the latter is likely due to the atmospheric lunar tide. The CSES EEJ data are also compared with lower thermospheric wind measurements by the Michelson Interferometer for Global High-Resolution Thermospheric Imaging (MIGHTI) onboard the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON). The results suggest that the EEJ intensity correlates negatively with the equatorial eastward wind at 100–115 km, consistent with earlier studies. Contributions of different tidal wind components to longitudinal structures of the EEJ are evaluated. A four-peak structure during July–September can be largely explained by the eastward-propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber 3 (DE3), while a two- or three-peak structure during December–January is mainly due to the combined effect of DE3 and the eastward-propagating diurnal tide with zonal wavenumber 2 (DE2). Furthermore, the CSES EEJ data are compared with the electron density measurements from the Langmuir probe onboard CSES. There is a positive correlation between the EEJ intensity and in-situ electron densities at ∼ 510 km from the same orbit, reflecting the plasma fountain effect. The correlation tends to be higher in the summer hemisphere, which may be due to the meridional wind in the thermosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Swarm satellites observed small-amplitude (0.1–5 nT) magnetic fluctuations perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. These so-called magnetic ripples (MRs) have a period of around a few tens of seconds along the satellite orbit in the topside ionosphere at middle and low latitudes. They are spatial structures from small-scale field-aligned currents. We investigated the following three characteristics of the MRs. First, we used Swarm observations to confirm their basic characteristics obtained from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload satellite. That is, the global distribution of the average MR amplitudes has clear geographic, seasonal, and local time dependence that is highly correlated with ionospheric conductivities. Second, we found that the average amplitudes of the MRs derived from the Swarm-B satellite, which flies at a ~50 km higher altitude, are slightly smaller than those of the Swarm-A and Swarm-C. This difference suggests that the location of the origin of MRs is below ~460 km altitude, i.e., not in the magnetosphere. Last, to provide evidence of correlation between the MRs and meteorological phenomena, we performed statistical and event analyses with typhoon track data, which are a source of acoustic and gravity waves. The data from 54 typhoons during the period from November 26, 2013, to July 31, 2016, were used for statistical analysis. The results show that the average amplitudes of the MRs during typhoon activity on the dawn, dusk, and night sides are larger than those during non-typhoon conditions. Event analyses indicate amplitude enhancements of the MRs around typhoons, and the latitude of the enhancement migrated with the typhoon. These analyses indicate that typhoon activity is correlated with MR activity and that cumulus convection activity other than typhoons may also affect MR amplitudes. Graphical abstract .

The Swarm satellites observed small-amplitude (0.1-5 nT) magnetic fluctuations perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. These so-called magnetic ripples (MRs) have a period of around a few tens of seconds along the satellite orbit in the topside ionosphere at middle and low latitudes. They are spatial structures from small-scale field-aligned currents. We investigated the following three characteristics of the MRs. First, we used Swarm observations to confirm their basic characteristics obtained from the Challenging Minisatellite Payload satellite. That is, the global distribution of the average MR amplitudes has clear geographic, seasonal, and local time dependence that is highly correlated with ionospheric conductivities. Second, we found that the average amplitudes of the MRs derived from the Swarm-B satellite, which flies at a ~50 km higher altitude, are slightly smaller than those of the Swarm-A and Swarm-C. This difference suggests that the location of the origin of MRs is below ~460 km altitude, i.e., not in the magnetosphere. Last, to provide evidence of correlation between the MRs and meteorological phenomena, we performed statistical and event analyses with typhoon track data, which are a source of acoustic and gravity waves. The data from 54 typhoons during the period from November 26, 2013, to July 31, 2016, were used for statistical analysis. The results show that the average amplitudes of the MRs during typhoon activity on the dawn, dusk, and night sides are larger than those during non-typhoon conditions. Event analyses indicate amplitude enhancements of the MRs around typhoons, and the latitude of the enhancement migrated with the typhoon. These analyses indicate that typhoon activity is correlated with MR activity and that cumulus convection activity other than typhoons may also affect MR amplitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Calbuco volcano in southern Chile erupted on April 22, 2015. About 2 h after the first eruption, a Swarm satellite passed above the volcano and observed enhancement of small-amplitude (~0.5 nT) magnetic fluctuations with wave-packet structure which extends 15° in latitude. Similar wave packet is seen at the geomagnetic conjugate point of the volcano. Just after the eruption, geomagnetic fluctuations with the spectral peaks around the vertical acoustic resonance periods, 215 and 260 s, were also observed at Huancayo Geomagnetic Observatory located on the magnetic equator. Besides these observations, around 4-min, i.e., 175, 205 and 260 s, oscillations of total electron content (TEC) were observed at global positioning system stations near the volcano. The horizontal propagation velocity and the spatial scale of the TEC oscillation are estimated to be 720 m/s and 1600 km, respectively. These observations strongly suggest that the atmospheric waves induced by explosive volcanic eruption generate TEC variation and electric currents. The Swarm observation may be explained as a manifestation of their magnetic effects observed in the topside ionosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]