ANALYSIS OF THE EQUIVALENT CURRENTS SYSTEM SQ BEHAVIOUR AT THE ARGENTINIAN PERMANENT MAGNETIC OBSERVATORIES (ROMP) DURING 2019-2021

Abstract

The ionospheric currents that flow in the E layer, the magnetospheric currents and the induced currents in the lithosphere under the station are the sources of geomagnetic variations in the calm days Sq. There exist several methods for estimating the values corresponding to magnetospheric currents. The magnitude of the induced currents contribution is considered about one-third of the measured horizontal variation Sq. In this work, one proceeds to produce the correction for magnetospheric effects by analyzing the ring current index SMR, getting an efficient correction. Subsequently, the values of the north and east components of the surface current densities (KN and KE) above ROMP stations are estimated for calm days with a Kp index less than or equal to 2 in the 2019-2021 interval. It is found that at 14 hs LT, the maximum KN and KE values are recorded at PIL on 12.4.2020, while the minimum KN and KE values are recorded at ORC on 10.19.19 and 11.16.20, respectively.