The prereversal enhancement of the zonal electric field in the equatorial ionosphere

The electric fields in the ionospheric E and F regions near the magnetic equator often show a strong eastward enhancement shortly after sunset and before the eastward (normally) daytime field reverses to westward. Several theoretical models of the low-latitude fields suggest that this enhancement is caused mainly or entirely by F region winds (the F region dynamo), but some authors have suggested that it could be produced solely by E region tidal winds. We give here additional calculations and arguments in support of the F region source. The enhancement of the eastward field for an eastward F region wind turns out to be a simple direct consequence of the fact that after sunset the ionospheric conductivity decreases far more rapidly in the E region than in the F region.