The Ionospheric F-Region Near 60 Deg Magnetic Latitude: Monthly Mean Behavior and Substorm Effects During Winter Nights.
Abstract
The aim of the study is to provide the first detailed look at the morphology of the ionospheric F-region near a geomagnetic latitude of 60 degrees. This region is of considerable interest because it lies at the base of the geomagnetic field line which forms the average boundary of the plasmasphere, the geomagnetic field-aligned envelope of co-rotating plasma which extends to approximately four earth radii in the equatorial plane (L = 4). The observational parameters used in this study monitor two different aspects of the ionosphere's vertical electron concentration profile, Ne(h). The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) is the total number of electrons in a vertical column of unit cross sectional area extending through the ionosphere. It is obtained by measuring the amount of Faraday rotation a plane polarized wave experiences in traveling from a satellite-borne radio beacon to a ground receiving station. The peak value of the electron concentration's vertical profile, denoted Nmax, is obtained from ground-based ionosonde measurements of the ionosphere's critical (or vertical penetration) frequency. The ratio of TEC/Nmax is called the ionospheric equivalent slab thickness, a first-order measure of the shape of the Ne(h) profile.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA035940
Entities
People
- Michael Buonsanto
- Michael Mendillo
Organizations
- Boston University