Computer simulations of the ionospheric equatorial anomaly in East Asia for equinoctial, solar minimum conditions

A new quasi three-dimensional, time-dependent meridional continuity equation for ionization in the ionospheric F-region, taking into account production, loss, electromagnetic and wind drifts, has been derived. This was coupled to the momentum equations for horizontal neutral winds so as to obtain a self-consistent solution for the effects of neutral winds on the low-latitude distribution of ionization throughout East Asia. For simplicity, the non-linear inertia terms have been neglected in the wind calculations. The numerical scheme used for solving the coupled equations is given and the selection of input parameters to the numerical model discussed. (author)