Electron density in the F1 layer over Norilsk in 2007–2014

Abstract

We report the results of the analysis of annual variations in daily electron density (N) for various solar activity conditions — minimum, rise, and maximum (2007–2014) — obtained from digisonde measurements at the ionospheric station Norilsk (69.4° N, 88.1° E). New coefficients of the known semi-empirical model (SEM) describing the connection between N and thermosphere characteristics are calculated to identify regularities of these variations exactly at Norilsk station. The height changes of annual variations in the noon electron density N are obtained in the F1 region (120–200 km). The experimental data approximation describes N quite satisfactorily at these heights in the daytime of different seasons under different solar activity conditions. It is shown that in the years of solar minimum at all heights of the F1 layer the tendency remains for maximum N in summer and for minimum N in winter. In later years and in the year of maximum solar activity, a characteristic feature of the behavior of N is the change in the phase of the annual variation by 180° in the range of heights from 170 to180 km: maximum N is observed in winter; and minimum, in summer.