Variations of foF2 and GPS total electron content over the Antarctic sector

MOSERT, M., L.A. MCKINNELL, M. GENDE, C. BRUNINI, J. ARAUJO, R.G. EZQUER, M. CABRERA

Kagoshima, Japon

Workshop; IRI Workshop 2009; 2009

Kagoshima University

This paper presents an analysis of the variations of the ionosphere over the Antarctic Sector using two parameters obtained by different techniques:  the critical frequency of the F2 region (foF2) and the total electron content TEC. Hourly foF2 values were scaled from ionograms recorded at San Martín (68.1°S, 293.0°E) and the TEC values were derived from GPS observations at O´Higgins (63.3°S, 302.5°E). The database includes measurements obtained under different seasonal and solar activity conditions. An analysis of the performance of the IRI model to predict the two parameters is also done using the two IRI options (URSI and CCIR). The results indicate that the diurnal, seasonal and solar activity variations of the two estimations are in good agreement. The analysis shows similar results to those reported by other authors analyzing ionosonda data from high latitude stations in the Southern hemisphere.