SUNSPOT CYCLE AND IONOSPHERIC STORMS.
Abstract
This study pertains to ionospheric storms and to the F(2) region electron density and nondeviative absorption variations accompanying them. Data for a year of medium (1960) and a year of low (1963) sunspot number are analyzed. An index of ionospheric storminess, which is an indicator of the amount of expansion and contraction of the HF useful frequency spectrum caused by ionospheric storms, is also discussed. The data used in this study are the amplitude recordings, made at Concord, Mass., of several WWV frequencies originating from Beltsville, Maryland. The path length involved is 590 km. In this paper are discussed: the usefulness and ease of calculation of the storm index; the apparent solar (cos x) control of the F(2) region during a year of low sunspot number; the absorption (mostly nondeviative) accompanying ionospheric and magnetic storms; the differences in average ionospheric storm variations between two years of the sunspot cycle; and the appearance or disappearance of a pronounced f(o)F(1) cusp on the Ft Belvoir ionosonde data which indicates whether an ionospheric storm is accompanied by enhanced or depressed F(2) region electron densities. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0615111
Entities
People
- K. L. Smallwood
- Raymond J. Cormier
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories