Comparison of the polar D-region behavior in the Arctic and Antarctic

Abstract

The behavior of the polar D-region in the Arctic and Antarctic is studied on the basis of the database of the electron concentration measurements onboard the M-100B meteorological rockets launched at the Heiss Island and Molodezhnaya sites. All the measurements have been conducted by the same method, so their intercomparison is valid independently on the well known absolute calibration problem. It is found that there is a pronounced difference in the diurnal behavior of [e] in the upper D region at both sites. The [e] values demonstrate a correlation with the ΣKp magnetic index, the dependence being better pronounced in the dark period The [e] values demonstrate also a dependence on the neutral gas temperature T, the fact being a manifestation of the meteorological control of the D region even at high latitudes.