Comparative study ofionogram F2 peak height from different techniques

Abstract

We have carried out an intercomparison of the layer height parameters hmF2, hpF2 and hpF2[M(3000)} all deduced from h'(f) curve, in order to identify the conditions and trends, if any, under which the hmF2, according to the POLAN true height analysis, could be best represented by either of the other two parameters that are obtained empirically from simpleconsiderations. The analysis is carried out for a low-latitude and an equatorial station, for two different months, representative of local summer and equinox. The analysis shows that during nighttime hpF2 and hmF2[M(3000)] arc almost coincident and both of them give a very good estimation of hmF2 (according to the POLAN code), implying that either of them could be used to represent the F2 layer peak height within the same precision. During daytime, however, hpF2 is generally higher tha."l hmF2[M(3000)], the difference being more pronounced during December (local summer) months. It is observed that during daytime lunF2[M(3000)] overestimates hmF2 (derived using POLAN) over the equatorial station and underestimates it over the low-latitude station, while hpF2 generally overestimates it at both locations.