Search

A short review of the pattern and morphology of the equatorial plasma drift velocities, particularly during the evening-time Pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) period in the African region had been presented. The seasonal PRE peak values across some locations in the West-African region were considered and compared with other sectors of the world. While most plasma drift observations in the African region were calculated from ionosonde measurements, the observations from other sectors involved direct measurement from satellite and the Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) observations. The importance of the PRE in ionospheric electrodynamics was highlighted, the better in the use of either the virtual or real heights of the F-layer in inferring vertical drift velocities were enumerated, revealing the strengths and weakness of each method. The general observations revealed that PRE peak magnitude is commonly weaker in the African region in comparison with the American/Peruvian and Indian sectors, seasonal and solar activity dependent, and could be higher during either magnetic quiet or disturbed activity than when both magnetic activity conditions are combined. The first work to present a regional PRE model around the African equatorial ionization anomaly region (Adebesin et al model) was mentioned. The relevance of the E × B drift in quantifying the daytime equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current was also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of ionization gradient (dN/dh) profile in the description of ionospheric dynamics is not common. This is the first attempt at finding the dependence of ionization gradient, solar quiet component (Sq (BH)), and bottomside thickness parameter (B0) in the African equatorial sector. Digisonde and Magnetic Data Acquisition System data collocated at an equatorial location were employed. Result was presented for sunrise (00 LT), midday (12 LT), sunset (18 LT), and midnight (00 LT) hours. The ionization gradient peak height remains unchanged at midday across all months. A percentage correlation of 93% existed in the inverse and direct linear relationship of dN/dh‐B0 at sunrise, and of Sq (BH)‐B0 at midday, respectively. Significant relationship between dN/dh and Sq (BH) was at sunset; for other hours, the relationship is poor. The multiple linear relationship of dN/dh‐Sq (BH)‐B0 parameters revealed that the dependence of dN/dh on Sq (BH) and B0 is highest at midday, and a model equation was presented. The dependence of dN/dh on the solar activity index (F10.7) holds at all the selected hours, and distinct only at midday and midnight for the Sq (BH)‐F10.7 and B0‐F10.7 patterns. Both the peak ionization gradient and the height it occurs maximizes/minimizes at 18 LT/06 LT. The importance of the F region dynamo at heights above 150 km was reported. Key Points: The dependence of ionization gradient on Sq current and F region bottomside thickness parameter is highest at middayThe height at which the peak ionization magnitude was obtained remain unchanged at midday hour across all months consideredIncrease/decrease dN/dh magnitude propels decrease/increase B0 value at sunrise across all months (r = −0.9293) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ionosphere induces a time delay in transionospheric radio signals such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. The Total Electron Content (TEC) is a key parameter in the mitigation of ionospheric effects on transionospheric signals. The delay in GPS signal induced by the ionosphere is proportional to TEC along the path from the GPS satellite to a receiver. The diurnal monthly and seasonal variations of ionospheric electron content were studied during the year 2010, a year of extreme solar minimum (F10.7 = 81 solar flux unit), with data from the GPS receiver and the Digisonde Portable Sounder (DPS) collocated at Ilorin (Geog. Lat. 8.50°N, Long. 4.50°E, dip − 7.9 °). The diurnal monthly variation shows steady increases in TEC and F2-layer critical frequency (foF2) from pre-dawn minimum to afternoon maximum and then decreases after sunset. TEC show significant seasonal variation during the daytime between 0900 and 1900 UT (LT = UT + 1 h) with a maximum during the March equinox (about 35 TECU) and minimum during the June solstice (about 24 TECU). The GPS-TEC and foF2 values reveal a weak seasonal anomaly and equinoctial asymmetry during the daytime. The variations observed find their explanations in the amount of solar radiation and neutral gas composition. The measured TEC and foF2 values were compared with last two versions of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2007 and IRI -2012) model predictions using the NeQuick and CCIR (International Radio Consultative Committee) options respectively in the model. In general, the two models give foF2 close to the experimental values, whereas significant discrepancies are found in the predictions of TEC from the models especially during the daytime. The error in height dependent thickness parameter, daytime underestimation of equatorial drift and contributions of electrons from altitudes above 2000 km have been suggested as the possible causes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limitation of ionospheric models in describing short-term ionospheric events has led to the development of data assimilative models e.g. the International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas) model . This paper compares the IRI-Plas derived total electron content (TEC), the peak height (hmF2) and critical frequency (foF2) of the F2-layer with those obtained from Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver's and Digisonde Precision Sounder (DPS-4) measurements over Ilorin (Geog. Lat. 8.50 o N; Long. 4.50 o E, dip: - 7.9 o ) during geomagnetic storm days. The model estimation was done by assimilation of Ionosonde foF2 and TEC derived from GPS (GPS-TEC) and Global Ionospheric Map (GIM-TEC) into the model code. In order to study the effect of data assimilation on the model's representation, the "no input" option of the model was used as reference. The result shows that with the exception of the foF2 assimilation mode, all the options generally reproduced TEC quite well for all the storm days considered. Overall, the model adjusted with GPS-TEC gives the best prediction of TEC as it reduced the prediction error of TEC by a multiple of up to three compared to using the GIM-TEC. Also, all the options failed to reproduce the storm induced prominent features in the storm-time features of foF2 and hmF2. In other word, assimilation with the TEC does not generally improve the storm-time predictions of foF2 and hmF2 at the station. Consequently, for storm-time estimation of the F2-layer peak parameters, the 'no input' representation of the model is more valid at this station.