Abstract

We examine the main morphological patterns and climatological behaviour of equatorial F2 region over African sector using hourly observational values of F2 peak height of maximum electron density (h m F2), F2 layer peak electron density (N m F2/ foF2), and propagation factor (M3000F2) hitherto made by the Ibadan ionosonde at 7.4°N, 3.9°E, dip latitude 2.3°S, in Nigeria; between January to December 1958, during a period of high solar activity (yearly averaged Rz12 = 190 units) and magnetically quiet conditions (Kp ≤ 3). A direct comparison between these measurements and the International Reference Ionosphere 2007 (IRI-2007) model-predictions are also made. The results of comparisons illustrate that good advancement has been made but reveal some important discrepancies. The trends in the experimental data are found to be in excellent agreement with the trends in the simulation results for maximum electron density and propagation factor, but fair-to-good for F2 layer peak altitude. The model is unable to capture the sharp postsunset and predawn enhancements in h m F2 and M3000F2, respectively. The model results have errors ranging from approximately 8–15%, 9–17%, and 3–5%, respectively, for h m F2, N m F2, and M3000F2. On average, the percent absolute relative difference of the model from the experimental observations varies from about 0–20%, 0–30%, and 0–10% for h m F2, N m F2, and M3000F2, in that order. Our results are essentially consistent with other equatorial and low-latitude ground-based measurements over South America, India, and Southeast Asia.

Highlights

  • The equatorial and low-latitude F region ionosphere presents some perculiar characteristics behavior when compared to the middle and high latitude ionosphere

  • The most obvious disparity between the experimental and empirical curves is when the sharp peak in M3000 F2 appears around dawn. 3.3 Variation of percent relative deviations between model and data Beside International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) validation, we explore if there are any significant discrepancies between the measured and modeled results and to indicate specific time for these discrepancies

  • Comparisons with the IRI model predictions demonstrate that the model predominantly overpredicts the F2 peak altitude observations during the daytime, but there is visual tremendous agreement after midnight and 1000 local time for all seasons

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Summary

Introduction

The equatorial and low-latitude F region ionosphere presents some perculiar characteristics behavior when compared to the middle and high latitude ionosphere.

Results
Conclusion
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