Numerical modeling of the electron density enhancements in the night-time ionospheric F2-layer
The middle-latitude enhanced electron density regions (EEDRs) in the night-time ionospheric F2-layer have been investigated using the global numerical Upper Atmosphere Model (UAM) and the empirical ionospheric model IRI-2001. The mechanism of formation, seasonal and latitudinal-longitudinal variations of the EEDRs has been studied. It has been shown that two types of the EEDRs exist on the geomagnetic foF2 maps: 1) winter type with maxima in the latitudinal and diurnal foF2 variations and 2) summer type with the maximum in the latitudinal variation only. Formation of both types of the EEDRs is explained by the corresponding seasonal variations of the thermospheric wind. The physical mechanism of the EEDRs forming is based on the joint action of the plasma flows from the plasmasphere and the neutral wind inducing transportation of the ionospheric plasma along the geomagnetic field lines. The Weddell Sea Anomaly and the analogous phenomenon observed in the Northern Hemisphere have been explained.