Ionospheric radio wave absorption in the auroral zone and the interplanetary magnetic field sector structure

Abstract

We have considered the character of radio wave absorption variations in the auroral zone, depending on the relative number of sunspots over a 11-yr cycle and on a interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) sector polarity, by using observations carried out at Murmansk, by the Al method, at noon throughout 1959 to 1967. It was shown that the abnormal absorption occurrence frequencies as well as the background absorption values are generally bigger in the case of the IMF directed away from the Sun. The difference, caused by IMF sector polarity, of both values is subject to regular quasi-two-year variations.