Title: On the plasma density variation in the F2 region during geomagnetic storms

Authors: Rose Chigoziri Anamezie; Kingsley Chukwudi Okpala; Obiageli Josephine Ugonabo

Addresses: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria ' Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract: The features of ionospheric storm given by the percentage change in frequency (dfoF2) have been investigated for four stations. Using the international quietest days as a reference, dfoF2 was computed as the deviation of the storm day critical frequency from the quiet day diurnal variation. The main interest here was to understand the hemispheric and longitudinal differences in the ionospheric storm responses in these mid latitude locations. Clear hemispheric differences were observed in association of the ionospheric storms with geomagnetic storms. The times of significant ionospheric storms were not usually coincident with peak geomagnetic storms. It is suggested that electrodynamic changes in the high latitudes which could be linked to the geomagnetic storm may be forcing the changes in the sub aurora stations, while localized effect dominate the response in the southern hemisphere stations. These findings have important implications for our present understanding of ionospheric variation in the continent.

Keywords: ionospheric storm; plasma frequency; geomagnetic storms; F2 layer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSPACESE.2021.113867

International Journal of Space Science and Engineering, 2021 Vol.6 No.3, pp.275 - 291

Received: 07 May 2020
Accepted: 04 Aug 2020
Published online: 31 Mar 2021 *

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