The Investigation of Relationship between Solar Parameters and Total Electron Content over Mid-Latitude Ionosphere

Abstract

In this study, the relationship with solar parameters (F10.7 index, proton density and proton speed) of the Total Electron Content (TEC) values obtained from IONOLAB and IRI-2012 models is statistically examined during equinox months (March and September) of 2009 over mid-latitude ionosphere for night and day time. As a statistical tool, a multiple regression model is used to determine the relationship between solar parameters and TEC values. At Universal Time (UT) 1200, the explainable rates by solar parameters of TEC changes are calculated as 58% and 55% for IONOLAB TEC values in March and September equinox months, on the other hand these rates are obtained as 99% and 57% for IRI-2012 TEC values. At 2400UT, 57 % and 39 % of changes in IONOLAB and 51 % and 59 % of changes in IRI-2012 TEC values during equinox months could be explainable by solar parameters, respectively. It is observed that the IONOLAB-TEC values are higher than IRI-2012 TEC values on both equinox months. Also, IONOLAB-TEC values on September 2009 are greater than ones on March 2009. When compared to the two models, we concluded that IONOLAB model is more sensitive than IRI-2012 model to the changes occurring in the sun over mid-latitude.