Variability of the Critical Frequency foF2 for Equatorial Regions during Solar Cycle’s Minima and Maxima at Ouagadougou and Manila Stations

In this paper we report on the foF2 variabilities for two equatorial regions (Ouagadougou: Lat. 12.4°N;Long. 358.5°E, Dip. 1.43°S;and Manila: Lat. 14°36'15.12''N;Long. 120°58'55.92''E;Dip. 0.6°S) during solar cycles 20 and 21 minima and maxima phases. Many previous works have argued on the diurnal and seasonal variation of foF2 for different solar events conditions for latitudinal position. But there are few investigations for Africa equatorial region longitudinal variation. The present paper’s goal is to outline possible similarity in foF2 behavior between variations for better understanding of physical process lead to some observed phenomenon in Asia-Africa equatorial sector. The F-layer critical frequency (foF2) data observed from the two equatorial ionosonde stations have been used for the present comparative study. The results show significant similarity between the critical frequency (foF2) seasonal variations over the time intervals 1976-1996. During day-time measured data from Manila station are higher than those from Ouagadougou station. That may lie in that Manila is closer to equatorial ionization crest region. During solar minimum phase, the longitudinal variation of foF2 shows two crossing points (11:00 UT and 22:00 UT) between the foF2 profiles form the two stations for all seasons regardless of the solar cycle. However during intense solar activity condition, the number of crossing-point between measured data from Manila and Ouagadougou stations varies by seasons and solar cycle. This phenomenon may be due to the compilations of severe activities (storms, coronal mass ejection, heliosheet fluctuations) during the solar maximum phases.

Electron Bulk Surface Density Effect on Critical Frequency in the F2-Layer

Ionosphere layer is the atmosphere region which reflects radio waves for telecommunication. The density in particles in this layer influences the quality of communication. This study deals with the effects of Total Electron Contents (TEC) on the critical frequency of radio waves in the F2-layer. Total Electron Contents parameter symbolizes electron bulk surface density in ionosphere layer. Above critical frequency value in F2 layer (foF2), radio waves pass through ionosphere. The knowledge of this value enables to calibrate transmission frequencies. In this study, we consider TEC effects on foF2 under quiet time conditions during the maximum and the minimum of solar cycle 22, at Ouagadougou station, in West Africa. The study also considers the effects of seasons and the hourly variability of TEC and foF2. This work shows winter anomaly on foF2 and TEC on minimum and maximum of solar cycle phase respectively. Running International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model enables to carry out the effects of TEC on foF2 by use of their monthly average values. This leads to a new approach to calibrate radio transmitters.

foF2 Seasonal Asymmetry Time Variation at Korhogo Station from 1992 to 2002

foF2 seasonal asymmetry is investigated at Korhogo station from 1992 to 2002. We show that equinoctial asymmetry is less pronounced and somwhere is absent trough out solar cycle phase. In general, the absence of equinoctial asymmetry may be due to the fact that in equinox and for each solar cycle phase, the asymmetry is due to Russell-McPherron mechanism. The solstice anomaly or annual anomaly is always observed throughout solar cycle phase. The minimum value of ΔfoF2 is inferior than −60% seen during all solar cycle phase at 0700 LT. This annual asymmetry may be due to interplanetary corpuscular radiation.

The Effects of the Recurrent Storms on Fof2 at Ouagadougou Station during Solar Cycles 21-22

The present paper deals with the effect of recurrent activity on the foF2 diurnal variation at Ouagadougou station for solar cycles 21 and 22. The recurrent activity produces at daytime positive storm for all solar cycle phases. For all seasons, the recurrent activity causes positive storm during nighttime and has no effect during daytime. From this study, it emerges that a positive effect of the storm at this station may be explained by the thermospheric composition changes. Recurrent activity more occurs during the solar decreasing phase and during spring month. The storm strength shows solar cycle phase and seasonal dependence. The storm strength is the highest during the solar increasing phase and during summer months.

The Geomagnetic Effects of Solar Activity as Measured at Ouagadougou Station

The coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produce by Sun poloidal magnetic fields contribute to geomagnetic storms. The geomagnetic storm effects produced by one-day-shock, two-days-shock and three-days-shock activities on Ouagadougou station F2 layer critical frequency time variation are analyzed. It is found that during the solar minimum and the increasing phases, the shock activity produces both positive and negative storms. The positive storm is observed during daytime. At the solar maximum and the decreasing phases only the positive storm is produced. At the solar minimum there is no three-days-shock activity. During the solar increasing phase the highest amplitude of the storm effect is due to the one-day-shock activity and the lowest is produced by the two-days-shock activity. At the solar maximum phase the ionosphere electric current system is not affected by the shock activity. Nevertheless, the highest amplitude of the storm effect is caused by the two-days-shock activity and the lowest by the one-day-shock activity. During the solar decreasing phase, the highest amplitude provoked by the storm is due to the three-days-shock activity and the lowest by the one-day-shock activity.

A MODEL FOR THE VARIATIONS OF THE CRITICAL FREQUENCY OF F_2 LAYER DURING THE NEGATIVE PHASES OF IONOSPHERIC STORMS

A model for the negative phase of ionospheric storms in middle latitudes is presented. It is assumed that there will be molecule enriched air in the thermosphere above the auroral oval during the period of the main phase of a magnetic storm. The molecule enriched air is carried to the middle latitudes by thermospheric neutral wind, and at the same time it diffuses away. When the molecule enriched air arrives at the F2 layer above a station, the electron loss rate in the F2 layer increases, the electron density decreases and then the negative phase at the station begins. We have calculated the variations of the fo F2 following magnetic storms for Manzhouli （29.5°N, 117.5°E）, Freiburg （48°N, 07°E） and Billerica （43°N, 71°W） respectively. The results agree very well with typical events observed at the three stations and can be used to explain some average features of negative phase ionospheric storms in middle latitudes.

2024年5月8日至16日太阳风暴对电离层影响及效应分析

太阳风暴会造成地球电离层剧烈扰动,影响导航定位性能.本文针对2024-05-08—16太阳风暴期间发生的电离层扰动事件,分析了东、西半球不同纬度台站的电离层总电子含量(total electron content,TEC)、电离层TEC变化率、电离层F_(2)层临界频率、卫星导航单点定位误差等.分析认为:电离层向日面会对X射线耀斑发生响应,但是扰动主要来源是太阳风南向磁场能量注入引起的地磁暴;太阳风暴期间电离层顶部和底部的响应并不是同步的;卫星导航单点定位误差在太阳风暴期间会有明显增大,尤其在垂直方向会增大至±10 m,且在电离层暴恢复相期间会持续存在,并随电离层状态趋于平静呈逐渐减弱趋势.

Nighttime electron density enhancements at middle and low latitudes in East Asia

Nighttime enhancements in ionospheric electron density at mid- and low-latitudes are investigated by using the critical frequency of the F2-1ayer （foF2） data measured from ionosonde stations at Okinawa （26.3°N, 127.8°E, Geomagnetic 15.3°N）, Yamagawa （31.2°N, 130.6°E, Geomagnetic 20.4°N）, Kokubunji （35.7°N, 139.5°E, Geomagnetic 25.5°N）, and Wakkanai （45.4°N, 141.7°E, Geomagnetic 35.4°N） in East Asia during several solar cycles. The results show that there are obvious seasonal and solar activity dependencies of the nighttime electron density enhancements. The enhancements are termed pre-midnight enhancement and post-midnight enhancement, according to the local time when the enhancement appeared. The former has a higher occurrence probability in summer months than in winter months. In contrast, the latter has a larger occurrence probability in winter months than in summer months. Moreover, the nighttime enhancements in electron density are more likely to occur at lower solar activity. These seasonal and solar activity variations of the nighttime enhancements in electron density can be explained in terms of the combined effects of downward plasma flux from the plasmasphere and the neutral winds.