Spatial features of Weddell Sea and Yakutsk Anomalies in foF2 diurnal variations during high solar activity periods: Interkosmos-19 satellite and ground-based ionosonde observations, IRI reproduction and GSM TIP model simulation

Abstract

We studied the main morphology of the formation of summer ionospheric anomalies which includes the Weddell Sea Anomaly (WSA) and the Yakutsk Anomaly (YA) in terms of positive night-to-day foF2 differences. For this purpose, we have for the first time used topside sounding (Interkosmos-19 satellite) and ground-based (ionosonde) data as well as results from an empirical model (International Reference Ionosphere – IRI) and from a first-principles model (Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Protonosphere – GSM TIP). The main spatial morphological characteristics of the WSA and YA are similar which points to a common cause for their occurrence. Our preliminary GSM TIP model results showed that the foF2 values at nighttime are greater than at daytime due to: (1) the horizontal plasma transport due to electromagnetic drift; (2) the vertical component of plasma transport along the geomagnetic field lines via meridional neutral wind; (3) the distribution of the neutral composition of the thermosphere.