scholarly journals On the relation between ionospheric parameters and sunspot number

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Hall ◽  
Magnar Gullikstad Johnsen

AbstractIn a recent study, mid-latitude ionospheric parameters were compared with solar activity; it was suggested that the relationship between these, earlier assumed stable, might be changing with time (Lastovicka, 2019). Here, the information is extended to higher latitude (69.6°N, 19.2E) and further back in time. For the ionospheric F-region (viz. the critical frequency, FoF2) the same behaviour is seen with a change-point around 1996. For the ionospheric E-region (viz. the critical frequency, foE), change-points are less obvious than in the mid-latitude study, presumably owing to the observation site lying under the auroral oval.

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 157-168
Author(s):  
Wafaa H.A. Zaki

The ionosphere layer (F2) is known as the most important layer for High frequency (Hf) radio communication because it is a permanent layer and excited during the day and night so it is able to reflect the frequencies at night and day due to its high critical frequency, and this layer is affected by daily and monthly solar activity. In this study the characteristics and behavior of F2 layer during Solar cycle 24 were studied, the effect of Sunspots number (Ri) on the critical frequency (foF2), were investigated for the years (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) which represents the down phase of the solar cycle 24 over Erbil station (36° N, 44° E) by finding the critical frequency (foF2) values, the layer’ s impression times are determined for the days of solstice as well as equinox, where the solar activity was examined for the days of the winter and summer solstice and the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes for a period of 24 hours by applied the International Reference Ionosphere model IRI (2016). The output data for foF2 were verified by using the IRI-Ne- Quick option by specifying the time, date and Sunspot number parameters. Statistical analysis was caried out through the application of the Minitab (version 2018) in order to find the correlation between the critical frequency (foF2) of Ionospheric layer F2 and Sunspot number. It was concluded that the correlation is strong and positive, this indicate that critical frequency (foF2) increase with increasing Sunspots number (Ri) for solar cycle 24.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 2191-2200 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Bertoni ◽  
Y. Sahai ◽  
W. L. C. Lima ◽  
P. R. Fagundes ◽  
V. G. Pillat ◽  
...  

Abstract. In this work, the F-region critical frequency (foF2) and peak height (hmF2) measured by digital ionosondes at two Brazilian low-latitude stations, namely Palmas (10.17° S, 48.20° W, dip –10.80°) and São José dos Campos (23.20° S, 45.86° W, dip –38.41°), are compared with the IRI-2001 model predictions. The comparison at the latter station shows quite a reasonable agreement for both parameters. The former station exhibits a better agreement for hmF2 than for foF2. In general, the model generates good results, although some improvements are still necessary to implement in order to obtain better simulations for equatorial ionospheric regions.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1807-1812 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. V. Liperovskaya ◽  
V. V. Bogdanov ◽  
P.-F. Biagi ◽  
C.-V. Meister ◽  
V. A. Liperovsky

Abstract. In the present work it is shown that, in accordance with the observations of the vertical sounding station "Tashkent", the critical foE-frequency of the daytime E-layer increases about one day before winter-earthquakes with magnitudes M > 5 and depths of the epicentre of h < 60 km, which appeared at distances of R < 2000 km from the station. The reliability of the result is larger than 99 %. The phenomenon is not observed for summer-earthquakes. It seems to be determined by the atmospheric wind system. Further, the variations of the foE-frequency are compared with possible simultaneous variations of the critical frequency foF2 of the F2-layer. First results show that only very large changes of the ionisation density in the E-layer influence the ionisation density in the F-region. Therefore, no synchronous growth of the foE- and foF2-frequencies 1–2 days before seismic shocks could be observed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-91
Author(s):  
Husni Husni ◽  
Ali Warsito ◽  
Asnawi Husin

ABSTRAK Variasi perubahan frekuensi kritis lapisan F2 (foF2) dan ketinggian lapisan F2 (h'F2) di atas Kupang selama tahun 2014 mengalami perubahan yang bervariasi dimana hal ini bergantung pada aktivitas matahari, semakin tinggi tingkat aktivitas matahari semakin tinggi pula tingkat variasi pada foF2 dan h'F2, sebaliknya semakin rendah tingkat aktivitas matahari semakin berkurang pula tingkat variasi foF2 dan h'F2 variasi perubahan terhadap lapisan F diindikasikan dengan penurunan dan peningkatan nilai foF2 dan h'F2. Peningkatan nilai foF2 rata-rata terjadi pada pukul  07.00 WITA mencapai maksimumnya pada pukul 12.00-14.00 WITA siang hari dan dikuti dengan penurunan nilai foF2 pada malam hari yang mencapai minimumnya pada pukul 05.00-06.00 WITA pagi. Selama tahun 2014, ketinggian lapisan F2 memiliki tiga pola peningkatan yang berbeda, (1) peningkatan ketinggian pada jam tengah hari seperti yang terjadi pada bulan Januari – April, (2) peningkatan pada jam tengah malam hingga menjelang matahari terbit, jam-jam tengah hari dan  sore hingga malam hari terjadi pada bulan Mei – Agustus (3) peningkatan pada pada jam tengah malam hingga menjelang matahari terbit dan jam-jam tengah hari seperti pada bulan September – Desember. Dalam pemanfaatannya sebagai media pantul gelombang komunikasi radio frekuensi tinggi (HF), karakteristik ionosfer di atas Kupang selama tahun 2014, memiliki kemampuan memantulkan gelombang frekuensi tinggi berada pada rentang 2-19.2 MHz dengan ketinggian yang berada pada rentang 179 – 550 Km. Akan mengakibatkan gagalnya komunikasi radio frekuensi tinggi, apabila menggunakan frekuensi lebih besar atau lebih kecil dari frekuensi yang dapat bekerja tersebut. Kata Kunci : Aktivitas matahari, Frekuensi kritis F2, ketinggian lapisan F2, komunikasi radio, frekuensi tinggi. ABSTRACT The ionospheric critical frequency (foF2) and the F2 layer height (h'F2) variation over Kupang during 2014 period unchanged varied where it is dependent on solar activity, the higher the level of solar activity the higher the level of variation in foF2 and h'F2, conversely the lower level of sun activity diminishing the level of variation foF2 and h'F2 variation changes to the F layer is indicated by a decrease and an increase in the value of foF2 and h'F2. Increasing the value of the average foF2 occurred at 07:00 pm reaching it's maximum at noon and 12:00 to 14:00 pm followed by impairment foF2 at night, which reached it's minimum at morning 5:00 to 6:00 pm. During 2014, the altitude of the F2 has three patterns different upgrade, (1) an increase in height on the hour midday as happened in January-April, (2) an increase in the hours of midnight until before sunrise, hours noon and afternoon until the evening occurred in May-August (3) an increase in the hours of midnight until near sunrise and midday hours as in September-December. In the media utilization as reflected waves of high frequency radio communications (HF), characteristics of the ionosphere above Kupang during 2014, has the ability to reflect high frequency waves that are in the range of 2 - 19.2 MHz with a height that is in the range 179-550 Km. Will lead to high frequency radio communication failure, when using a frequency of greater or smaller than the frequency that can work. Keywords: solar activity, the critical frequency of F2, F2 layer heights, radio communications, high frequency.


2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1197-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Nenovski ◽  
Ch. Spassov ◽  
M. Pezzopane ◽  
U. Villante ◽  
M. Vellante ◽  
...  

Abstract. Ionograms from Rome (41.8N, 12.5E) and Sofia (42.4N, 23.2E) ionospheric stations during earthquake (EQ) activity with magnitude (M) between 5 and 6 in Central Italy are analyzed. It is found that several ionospheric disturbances occur in the intermediate E-F region before the EQ shock. In fact, besides sporadic E (Es) layer development (of type h) of short duration (transients), fmin increase, trace gaps near the critical frequencies, and E region trace disappearance are also observed within one to three hours before the EQ shock. Before the EQ shocks we find that the F2 region parameters are practically undisturbed. The only exception is the so-called fork trace that appears mostly near the critical frequency of the F2 region. Acoustic gravity waves (AGW) are suggested as one of the possible sources of transients observed in the ionosphere before the EQ shock.


Author(s):  
Min-Ho Jeon ◽  
Chang-Heon Oh

The F2 layer is the upper sector of the ionospheric F region, and it is ~250 km above sea level. It has a high electron density and thus plays an important role in shortwave communications. The variations of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) offer clues regarding the events happening within the entire F2 layer, and foF2 analysis is essential for stable shortwave communications. This study analyzes the seasonal and annual variations of the foF2 as well as the reactions of the F2 layer height at two locations in South Korea by employing the mean and standard deviation (SD) used in previous studies. To ensure a more elaborate analysis, the median and quartiles were used for analyzing the ionosphere. We thereby compensate for the limitations of the mean and SD in developing the SD, despite the convenience of the SD for probability analysis. The application of the median and quartiles for the analysis of ionospheric data led to analysis results with greater detail. This was achieved by determining the relative SD and concurrently displaying the outliers and range of variations


Author(s):  
Min-Ho Jeon ◽  
Chang-Heon Oh

The F2 layer is the upper sector of the ionospheric F region, and it is ~250 km above sea level. It has a high electron density and thus plays an important role in shortwave communications. The variations of the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) offer clues regarding the events happening within the entire F2 layer, and foF2 analysis is essential for stable shortwave communications. This study analyzes the seasonal and annual variations of the foF2 as well as the reactions of the F2 layer height at two locations in South Korea by employing the mean and standard deviation (SD) used in previous studies. To ensure a more elaborate analysis, the median and quartiles were used for analyzing the ionosphere. We thereby compensate for the limitations of the mean and SD in developing the SD, despite the convenience of the SD for probability analysis. The application of the median and quartiles for the analysis of ionospheric data led to analysis results with greater detail. This was achieved by determining the relative SD and concurrently displaying the outliers and range of variations


2014 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 809-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Q. Hao ◽  
H. Shi ◽  
Z. Xiao ◽  
D. H. Zhang

Abstract. Following prolonged and extremely quiet solar activity from 2008 to 2009, the 24th solar cycle started slowly. It has been almost 5 years since then. The measurement of ionospheric critical frequency (foF2) shows the fact that solar activity has been significantly lower in the first half of cycle 24, compared to the average levels of cycles 19 to 23; the data of global average total electron content (TEC) confirm that the global ionosphere around the cycle 24 peak is much more weakly ionized, in contrast to cycle 23. The weak ionization has been more notable since the year 2012, when both the ionosphere and solar activity were expected to be approaching their maximum level. The undersupply of solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance somewhat continues after the 2008–2009 minimum, and is considered to be the main cause of the weak ionization. It further implies that the thermosphere and ionosphere in the first solar cycle of this millennium would probably differ from what we have learned from the previous cycles of the space age.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 3781-3790 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Patra ◽  
D. V. Phanikumar

Abstract. Intriguing new results of F-region irregularities observed using the Gadanki MST radar during the SAFAR campaigns, which were conducted during the equinox and summer of 2008 that corresponds to low solar activity condition, are presented. The summer observations are first of its kind from Gadanki. Observations revealed remarkably different morphology of the F-region irregularities in summer when compared to that in equinox. In summer, the F-region irregularities were observed as horizontally stratified structures, while in equinox they were observed as plume structures. Further, the irregularities in summer commenced during the post-midnight hours in contrast to their commencement in the post-sunset hours and occurrence extending to post-midnight hours in equinox. In addition, an intriguing observation of the summer time irregularities is that they occurred when the background electron density was remarkably low as characterized by the disappearance of the F layer trace in the ionograms. An interesting event of equinox that was observed for 10 h and extended beyond the sunrise time displayed multiple plume structures having periods similar to those of the E-region velocity variations. These observations are discussed with due focus on the genesis of post-midnight F-region irregularities and their possible linkage to the E-region dynamics.


2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1677-1685 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. K. Sethi ◽  
M. K. Goel ◽  
K. K. Mahajan

Abstract. Noontime monthly median values of F2-layer critical frequency foF2 (m) for some ionospheric stations representing low- and mid-latitudes are examined for their dependence on solar activity for the years 1957 (IGY) to 1990. This is the period for which ionospheric data in digital form is available in two CD-ROMs at the World Data Center, Boulder. It is observed that at mid-latitudes, foF2 (m) shows nearly a linear relationship with R12 (the 12-month running average of the Zurich sunspot number), though this relation is nonlinear for low-latitudes. These results indicate some departures from the existing information often used in theoretical and applied areas of space research.Key words. Ionosphere (equatorial ionosphere; mid-latitude ionosphere; modelling and forecasting)


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