Quiet time Variation of the Geomagnetic H-component strength over Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

The study of the geomagnetic H-component variation during the geomagnetic solar quiet days, sq(H) was investigated using the horizontal (H) component hourly data from geomagnetic field measurement from a ground based MAGDAS (Magnetic Data Acquisition System) fluxgate magnetometer for a period of twelve (12) months in the year 2008.The location of the measuring instrument is at Ilorin, an equatorial electrojet station located at the geomagnetic coordinates (-1.82⁰ and 78.90⁰) and geographical coordinates (8.50⁰ and 4.68⁰) respectively. Results of the investigations show a noon-time-peak value for all the months considered. It was observed that the magnitude of the Sq(H) shows an increase in amplitude from dawn to noon and a decrease to the minimum daytime value. The variations in the geomagnetic field at this location can be attributed to the combined effect of latitudinal variation, influence of solar activity conditions and E X B field.