Ionospheric conductance using different IRI F2 layer models

Abstract

The conductivity is an important ionospheric parameter since it define the current systems in the high atmosphere and the magnetosphere. As direct estimation of conductivity in real time is not possible, it is estimated using plasma theory and atmospheric ground measurement or modeling instead. One of the most widely used models to estimate the ionospheric parameters is the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI). IRI is constantly improved thanks to the efforts of a great worldwide community, making it a very reliable model of the ionosphere. Any new model included to IRI change the way to calculate some parameters, and consequently modify the output of the code. In this work we analyze how much IRI F-layer model options can affect the estimation of ionospheric Hall and Pedersen conductivity and conductance for the day and at night. The models analyzed are estimators of height and frequency of the F2 peak, hmF2 and foF2, and, the shape and thickness of this layer, called B0 and B1. Models of foF2 slightly affect the conductance calculation, negligible in Hall case and <10% in Pedersen case, reaching 15% in particular zones at noon, but at night can be reached 150% of difference. B0–B1 models modify the conductance calculation mainly over northern region of magnetic equator during the day, but at night, variations of up to 90% are observed in the case of Pedersen. The hmF2 models obtain the maximum rate of change, being up to 60% in some areas at noon, while at night, it can reach 210% difference for Pedersen.