Looking for a model of the ionospheric variability

M. MOSERT , E.GULARTE, R.EZQUER

La Plata

Workshop; First International Workshop of the Argentine Network for upper Atmospheric Research; 2012

CCT, La Plata

The need of a better description of the variability of the ionospheric parameters has been pointed out in the framework of the IRI Task Force Activities and IRI Worshops. The median conditions of the ionospheric characteristics are reasonably well predicted by many models for the electron density profile, such as the IRI-2000 model (Bilitza, 2001, 2007). Of particular interest is to the IRI Working Group the introduction of a model for the variability of the more important ionospheric parameters.The study of the variability can be focused on the peak or profile parameters (Rishbeth and Mendillo, 2001; Kouris and Fotiadis, 2002; Mosert et al, 2003; Ezquer et al, 2004, Alazo et al., 2004, Lazo et al. 2004, Zhang et al. 2004, Gordienko et al. 2005, Ezquer et al. 2007) or investigating the electron density at fixed heights (Mosert and Radicella, 1995; Zhang and Radicella, 1996; Ezquer et al, 2002, Altadill 1998, Miro Amarante et al. 2004). The objective of this contribution is to analyze the variability of ionospheric parameters derived from ionograms under different temporal conditions and for different latitudes. Indexes derived from median and mean values are used in order to characterize the day to day variability of the parameter foF2. The results of the study indicate that they can be useful to contribute to the formulation of a variability model for the IRI model.