FoF2 correlation studies with solar and geomagnetic indices for two equatorial stations

Abstract

The analysis of the contributions of solar and geomagnetic indices on the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2 layer (foF2)-, for different seasons and two Nigerian equatorial stations- Ibadan (Lat. 7.4°N, Long. 3.9°N) and Ilorin (Lat. 8.5°N, Long. 4.55°E)- are presented. The data set was randomly sampled across three solar cycles of periods of low, moderate and high solar activities. Solar indices used in this work are Coviten solar flux (F10.7cm), daily solar radio flux (dF10.7), International Sunspot Number (ISSN), Smoothen Sunspot Number (SmSSN), and Sun Spot Number (SSN). The geomagnetic indices used are planetary indices Am, Aa, Ap, C9, Cp, and Kp. foF2 showed a non-linear trend with an average coefficient (R) of 0.70 across the various seasons. Regression lines for polynomials of degree n=1 to n=6 was fitted, for each data set. Am, Ap, Aa, SSN, ISSN, F10.7cm, and dF10.7 with R values of 0.71,0.74,0.61,0.59,0.72,0.80, and 0.86, for the various geomagnetic and solar indices, had the highest contributions. We therefore advocate for SSN, ISSN, F10.7cm, dF10.7 and Am, Ap or Aa in modeling foF2 for the African equatorial ionosphere. The results of this work are in line with the results of other works carried out at different equatorial stations.