Range and frequency spreadF at Huancayo

Abstract

The mean occurrence of frequency type of spreadF at Huancayo has been shown to have practically no solar cycle dependence. The occurrence of range type of spreadF is shown to be inversely related to sunspot number. The range spread occurs mostly around 2100 LT for any of the solar epoch, while frequency spread has maximum occurrence between 2300 and 0000 LT in high sunspot years and between 0000 and 0100 LT in low sunspot years. The seasonal variation in the occurrence of either type of spreadF shows minimum in northern solstices (June months) and maximum occurrence in southern solstices (December months). The post-sunset rise ofF layer is most predominant during high sunspot years. These results point out the inadequacy of the theory of spreadF based entirely on the post-sunset upward rise of theF region after sunset.