Abstract
For a long time, the equivalent ionospheric slab thickness τ has remained in the shadow of ionospheric main parameters: the maximum density, NmF2 (or the critical frequency, foF2), and the total electron content. Empirical global models have been developed for these two parameters. Recently, several global models of τ have appeared concurrently. This paper compares τ of the Neustrelitz equivalent slab thickness model (NSTM), with τ(IRI-Plas) of the IRI-Plas model, and τ(Appr) of the approximation model, constructed along the 30° E meridian using data from several ionosondes. The choice of the model of the best conformity with observational data was made, which was used to study the effects of space weather during several magnetic storms in March 2012. The effects included: (1) a transition from negative disturbances at high latitudes to positive ones at low latitudes, (2) the super-fountain effect, which had been revealed and explained in previous papers, (3) a deepening of the main ionospheric trough. The efficiency of using τ(Appr) and τ(IRI-Plas) models for studying the effects of space weather has been confirmed. The advantage of the τ(Appr) model is its closeness to real data. The advantage of the τ(IRI-Plas) model is the ability to determine foF2 without ionosondes. The efficiency of the NSTM model is insufficient for a role of a global τ model due to the accuracy decreasing with the increasing latitude.
Highlights
Space weather affects the ionosphere, the state of which determines the operation of many communication and navigation systems
The ionogram is measured by the ionosonde, and value foF2 is the maximum frequency corresponding to the maximum density NmF2 of the ionosphere, which is proportional to the square of foF2
This paper specifies models that could be a candidate for the title of a global model of the equivalent ionospheric slab thickness τ
Summary
Space weather affects the ionosphere, the state of which determines the operation of many communication and navigation systems. The state of the ionosphere can be described by the critical frequency foF2 and the total electron content, TEC. The critical frequency foF2 is the penetration frequency of waves passing through the ionosphere during vertical sounding (e.g., [1]). The ionogram is measured by the ionosonde, and value foF2 is the maximum frequency corresponding to the maximum density NmF2 of the ionosphere, which is proportional to the square of foF2. TEC is the number of electrons in a vertical 1/m2 column that determines the ionospheric time delay of the wave (e.g., [2]). The ionospheric slab thickness τ (the ratio of the total electron content to the maximum electron density Nm) is a useful parameter from the point of view of satellite-to-ground radio communications [2]. The measurement accuracy of foF2 is greater than that of TEC, but the ionosonde network is not very dense
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