Solar quiet variation of the horizontal and vertical components of geomagnetic field using wavelet analysis

Abstract

The solar quiet (Sq) variations of horizontal and vertical (SqH and SqZ) components of the geomagnetic field obtained from both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere of the International Real-Time Magnetic Observatory Network (INTERMAGNET) during solar maximum year 2001 were investigated. The results show enlargement of the SqH component of the geomagnetic field during the daytime, attributed to equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current closer to the geomagnetic equator at the electrojet stations (BNG and MBO), which are produced from large eastward flow of the current. It was observed that SqZ is positive at the southward and negative at the northward hemispheres. SqZ is amplified at HER and HBK around the daytime. Wavelet power spectrum based approach was employed to analyse the SqH, SqZ, and rate of induction (SqZ/SqH) time series in a sequence of time scaling from January to December. The higher energy of SqH and SqZ of the wavelet coefficients is noticeable at high frequency. The monthly variation rate of induction (SqZ/SqH) analyses during the Sq variations are associated with the influence of equatorwards penetration of electric fields from the field-aligned current, Earth conductivity, effect of the ocean, and ionospheric conductivity.