Behavior of electron density in the ionosphere over Norilsk during the period of declining solar activity

Abstract

We report the results of approximation of electron density Ne array obtained with a digisonde at the high-latitude station Norilsk (69.40° N, 88.10° E) during years of declining solar activity (2003–2006). The calculations are made using the author's semi-empirical model with new coefficients calculated specifically for the station Norilsk. We obtain altitudinal changes of annual variations in daily Ne at heights of the ionospheric layer F1 (120–200 km). Approximation of experimental data describes Ne quite satisfactorily at these heights. Nevertheless, there are periods with quite pronounced deviations of model values from the experiment. The presence of significant geomagnetic disturbances during these periods is probably one of the reasons for such deviations.