Correlation of Short-Period Wave Disturbances of the Peak Electron Density of the F2 Layer and the Total Electron Content in the Ionosphere

Abstract

Correlation analysis of short-period (periods less than 24 h) wave disturbances of the maximum electron density in the F2 layer (NmF2) and the total electron content (TEC) was analyzed based on the data of the vertical ionosonde sounding and receiver of the Global Navigation Satellite Systems operating in Irkutsk. The measurement data in the period 2003–2020, which included almost two solar cycles, have been processed. It was found that the most likely case is a high positive correlation of short-period NmF2 and TEC disturbances. The number of cases of strong positive correlation increases (from 53 to 66%), and the number of cases of positive and negative weak correlation decreases (from 46 to 33%) as the solar and geomagnetic activity increases. During strong geomagnetic storms, the highest correlation (up to R = 0.89) is observed in the main phase of the storm and then decreases in the recovery phase to negative R values. Possible physical mechanisms of the results are considered.