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Seasonal Variabilities of Geomagnetic Field Components and Their Inter-Relationships along African Low Latitudes

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Abstract

Data set from three geomagnetic observatories located along the African meridian has been used to carry out an extensive study on the seasonal variability of Sq in horizontal H, declination D, and vertical Z intensity. The stations were managed by the International Centre for Space Weather Science Education ICSWSE, Kyushu University, Japan. Twelve months of data of only quiet days between August 2008 and September 2009 were used in the analysis following Lloyd’s seasonal classification. Seasonal variability was found to exist in all magnetic elements with equinoctial maxima and D-season minimum in the H field. The observed Sq in both D and Z fields has maximum J-season amplitude and minimum during September equinox. Results of the correlation coefficient show strong and positive correlation values between the same elements at different seasons. A poor correlation exists between the H field and other elements at all seasons but D and Z fields are well correlated in some seasons. This depicts some level of the interrelationship among geomagnetic elements at different seasons. Also, the variability in ionospheric current and shift in the relative position of Sq focus is assumed to be responsible for the seasonal variations.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Magnetic Data Acquisition System (MAGDAS) data used for this paper are available at the International Center for Space Weather Science and Education (ICSWSE) website http://magdas2.serc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/datausage/index.html upon request from the Project Leader (PL) of MAGDAS/ CPMN observations, A. Yoshikawa. The authors acknowledge the support of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Core-to-Core Program, B. Asia-Africa Science Platforms. The MAGDAS/CPMN group at International Center for Space Weather.

Science and Education (ICSWSE), Kyushu University, Japan, and all hosts of MAGDAS facilities at Addis Ababa, Khartoum, and Nairobi are acknowledged for keeping records of magnetic data and making them available for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Space Research, San Jose Dos Campos, 12227-010, Sao Paulo, Brasil

    O. O. Femi

  2. Centre for Atmospheric Research, National Agency for Space Research and Development, 272102, Anyigba, Nigeria

    A. B. Rabiu

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  1. O. O. Femi
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  2. A. B. Rabiu
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Correspondence to O. O. Femi or A. B. Rabiu.

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Femi, O.O., Rabiu, A.B. Seasonal Variabilities of Geomagnetic Field Components and Their Inter-Relationships along African Low Latitudes. Geomagn. Aeron. 62, 961–970 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793222080096

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S0016793222080096

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