Winter Anomaly in the Critical Frequency of the E-Layer in the Nighttime Polar Cap

Abstract

With the medians of the E-layer critical frequency foE measured at Resolute Bay and Casey ionospheric stations located in the polar caps of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, it is found that these medians are higher at the nighttime hours (2100–0300 LT) in the local winter than in local summer. For Resolute Bay station, which is located above the Arctic Circle, the latter means that the foE median is higher at polar night than at polar day. Thus, the effect of a winter anomaly in the foE median in the nighttime polar cap is detected. The amplitude of that anomaly (the ratio of the local winter foE values to local summer values) could reach 15–20% and 10–15% for Resolute Bay and Casey stations, respectively. It is assumed that the winter anomaly in the foE median in the nighttime polar cap is caused by the winter–summer asymmetry in the accelerated electron energy fluxes precipitating into this region.