A minimum in the latitude variation of spread-F at March equinox

Abstract

Abstract This short paper presents the statistics of spread-F occurrence at four low-mid latitude locations (17.0° N, 21.2° N, 26.5° N and 36.5° N mag. lat.) in Japan longitude sector (~ 135° E) in March to April 2002, 2003 and 2006 (high, medium and low solar activity). The location of a spread-F minimum predicted by theoretical models is identified for the first time. The spread-F minimum occurs at the poleward side of the equatorial ionisation anomaly crest and shifts equatorward from ~ 25° N mag. lat. at high solar activity to below 17° N at low solar activity. The corresponding spread-F maximum occurring on the poleward side of the minimum also shifts equatorward from ~ 35° N (or beyond) at medium solar activity to 20°–25° N at low solar activity. The spread-F occurrence increases with decreasing solar activity at all locations especially at higher latitudes (> ~ 25° N) where there is almost no occurrence at high solar activity.

Keywords

• Low-mid latitude spread-F
• Minimum and maximum in spread-F