Tidal analysis of equatorial ExB vertical drift measurements over Jicamarca

We present the first tidal analysis of equatorial ExB vertical drift measurements over the Jicamarca Radio Observatory (JRO), a facility of the Instituto Geofísico del Perú (IGP). This work is based on two years of ExB drift measurements conducted with the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar operating in the new JULIA-Medium Power mode. This mode has allowed estimating drifts almost continuously since its implementation. Our study was performed during high solar flux conditions (January 2023 - present) and shows evidence of 24-h (diurnal), 12-h (semi-diurnal), 8-h, and 6-h tides. The diurnal tide is the dominant component throughout the entire period of study and reaches a maximum of 28 m/s at the equinoxes. During solstices, the amplitude decreases to 18 m/s, but it is still greater than the amplitudes of the other tides. The semidiurnal tide reaches a maximum of 17 m/s in January and decreases during the following months. It reaches its minimum in July when there is no contribution from this component (zero amplitude) to the total vertical drifts. An 8-hour tidal component has also been observed with maximum amplitudes of 12 m/s during the equinoxes and zero contribution during the solstices. In addition, smaller contributions of the 6-hour tidal components have been detected, with some peaks of 8 m/s during equinoxes and zero contribution near the solstices. On the other hand, a comparison with tides obtained from ExB vertical drifts estimated with the Scherliess-Fejer model shows a similar seasonal variation for the different tides but with smaller amplitudes. This work is the first step for establishing whether the tides in the vertical drift measurements over Jicamarca are related to the ionosphere-atmosphere coupling or are caused by the F-region dynamo.