A model of a perturbed ionosphere using the auroral power as the input

Abstract

This work presents a semi-empirical model based on the theory developed by Fuller-Rowell et al. (1996). The model predicts changes in the ratio between observed and monthly median values of the F2 ionospheric layer critical frequency Ö (= foF2obs/foF2mm) during perturbed conditions. It requires the time history of the previous 30 hours of the TIROS/NOAA auroral power index (or ap index) weighted by a filter. We determine seasonal, latitudinal, and local time dependencies of the perturbed ionosphere in good agreement with theory.