Friends in Radio Land -
The discussion of the "full moon effect" has now reached "tidal
proportions", with a question from Bob, G3REP, as to whether the
moon could influence the earth's magnetic field and auroral
regions.
The answer is both "Yes" and "No". "Yes", the effect is a small
one, only extracted by statistical analyses of low latitude
magnetic data for quiet days, i.e., with no major magnetic disturbances.
The effect is seen in variations of magnetic components H, D and Z,
due to tidal motions of E-region ionization at equatorial latitudes.
But "No", effects at auroral latitudes do not result.
For a discusion of "solar quiet-day" (Sq) and "lunar-tidal" (L)
magnetic variations, see "Introduction to Geomagnetic Fields",
W.H. Campbell, Cambridge University Press (1997).
73,
Bob, NM7M
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