Comparison of Numerical Simulations of the Electron Density in the D-Region Ionosphere with Measurements of the Radar of Partial Reflections

Aleksandr Gomonov,Yulia Shapovalova,Roman Yurik,Olga Ogloblina,Sergei Cherniakov,A Nadykto,P Pivkin,P Lima,L Uvarova,K Egiazarian,A Zelensky,X Jiang,N Aleksic

doi:10.1051/epjconf/201922403011

Abstract

The paper reports results of a comparison of the measured electron density in the ionospheric D-region measured using the partial reflection facility at the observatory. Tumanny of the Polar Geophysical Institute (69.0°N, 35.7°E) with numerical simulations performed using the theoretical model of the Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) (Murmansk, Russian Federation). The model was examined using experimental data obtained under quiet geomagnetic conditions in March, 2017. The comparative analysis carried out in this study shows a very good agreement of the PGI model with experimental data and indicates that the IRI-2016 model fails to adequately reproduce measurements in regions with high electron density gradients.

Highlights

The D–region of the ionosphere covers the altitude range of 50–90 km
The algorithm for calculating of the electron density which was presented in this article and the computer model (PGI) was created on its basis are based on modern concepts of the ionization-recombination cycle in the lower ionosphere
The model takes into account all the main sources of ionization in the D-region of the ionosphere under quiet geomagnetic conditions

Summary

Introduction

The D–region of the ionosphere covers the altitude range of 50–90 km. The knowledge of its properties is very important as well as for applied interest and for scientific one. The radar has been designed by the Polar Geophysical Institute (PGI) (Murmansk, Russian Federation) to study the lower ionosphere by the method of partial reflections [1,2,3] and have been used for investigation and comparisons with methods [4,5]. The medium frequency (MF) radar of vertical sounding of the ionosphere by the partial reflection method is the main effective instrument for the quantitative study of the lower ionosphere, which allows continuous observations for a long time. This radar is situated at the radio physical observatory Tumanny of the Polar. It has been working since 1991 on a regular basis

Characteristics of the medium frequency radar of vertical sounding

Measurements

Conclusions