Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Using cross-track wind data from the accelerometer on board CHAMP, wind variation in the low latitude have been studied during the high and low solar fluxes. The data set covered the 2002 and 2004 March and September equinox periods. Analysis of the average results from this study found peak eastward speeds of about 220m/s and 120m/s for the low and high fluxes respectively, occurring at about 01.00SLT. Westward peak speeds occurred at about 13.00SLT with low flux and high flux values of about 250m/s and 140m/s respectively. The geomagnetic effect at each of the fluxes did not reveal significant changes. The changes in wind direction occurred 3 hours earlier than those from observations in previous studies. Interestingly when solar flux is low, wind speeds are heavily enhanced, both at high and low geomagnetic conditions. Some of the observed signatures of the thermospheric wind variation were attributed to both extraterrestrial phenomena, like cosmic rays and solar activity

Keywords: solar flux; geomagnetic activity, cross-track winds, thermosphere, variation

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