Study of the Effect of Solar Indices on the Ionosphere Layer of Mars

Abstract

This paper studies the effect of the solar indices (total sunspot no., solar wind density and coronal mass ejection linear speed) on F2- layer electron density, as well as, the comparison of seasonal variations of electron density of F2- layer, NmF2, for Mars at local noontime and for maximum and minimum solar cycles. Results show that there is an inverse correlation between sunspot number, solar wind density, CME linear speed and ionosphere electron density for Mars, at maximum and minimum solar cycles. This correlation is clear when electron density is at minimum value. The maximum value of NmF2 was in month 4 (Summer), month 21 (Winter) during maximum solar cycle, and month 1 (Spring), month 24 (Spring) during minimum solar cycle. The minimum value of NmF2 was in month 13 (Autumn) during maximum solar cycle, and month 9 (Summer) during minimum solar cycle. NmF2 was approximately constant in months 1- 8 (Spring and Summer) and gradually decreased in months 9- 13 (Summer and Autumn), then, gradually increased in months 14- 18 (Autumn and Winter) during maximum solar cycle (2012, 2013). In other hand, NmF2 was approximately constant in months 1- 5 (Spring and Summer) and gradually decreased in months 6- 9 (Summer), then, gradually increased in months 10- 16 (Autumn and Winter) during minimum solar cycle (2016, 2017).