Studying the Relationship between the Maximum Electron Density with the Critical Frequency in the Ionospheric E-Layer over Kirkuk City During the Solar Cycle 24

Abstract

This research aims to study the relationship between the values of electron density (NmE) and the critical frequency (fo E) of ionospheric E layer over Kirkuk city (lon: 44° E, lat: 35° N) which was obtained through the use of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI2016) publication on the website (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov/modelweb/models/iri2016_vitmo.php) during the years (2008, 2014, 2018), which represents each (ascending phase, peak, desending phase) for the solar cycle 24, and in dates (22December, 20March, 20June and 22Semtember) which represent the days of (Winter solstice, Spring equinox, Summer solstice, Autumn equinox) respectively. In this research, the nature of the relationship between the values of electron density (NmE) and the critical frequency of ionospheric E (fo E) layer were explained by description of hourly changes and calculating the correlation coefficient between the two variables by using Microsoft Excel (2010). The results indicated that there is a strong linear correlation between both variables where the values of correlation coefficients ranged between (0.984) – (0.998), and this indicates that with the increase in electron density the critical frequency increase, and vice versa.