The nature of seasonal changes in the effects of magnetic storms on mid-latitude F-layer electron concentration

Abstract

Apparent discrepancies exist between the results of various investigators concerning the nature of the seasonal variation in F-layer response to magnetic storms. It is shown that the apparent discrepancies are due to different methods of data analysis, depending on whether statistical methods or individual storm-by-storm analyses are used. An additional data analysis is performed to show that although on a statistical basis storms tend to increase F-layer electron concentration in winter and decrease it in summer, virtually all storms, irrespective of their season, produce both increasing and decreasing effects on electron concentration. This morphological result is important for the study of ionospheric processes during magnetic storms.