GEOMAGNETIC STORM EFFECTS ON F2 LAYER PEAK ELECTRON DENSITY AND OTHER PROFILE PARAMETERS AT HIGH SOLAR ACTIVITY AT AN EQUATORIAL STATION

George Atilade Àlàgbé

Department of Pure and Applied Physics,

Ladoke Akintola University of   Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

E-mail address:atiladealagbe@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The IPS 42 ionosonde was used to collect data at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (12.4⁰N, 1.5⁰W, dip 5.9⁰N), an equatorial station in West Africa, using IPS 42 ionosonde, were used for this work. Ionograms for years of high solar activity [1990 (Rz=143) and 1991(Rz=146)] were analysed. The parameters used for this study are the peak electron density (NmF2), height of occurrence (hmF2) and the slab thickness (TF2)  of the F2 layer of the ionosphere respectively; as well as the IRI (international reference ionosphere) bottom side profile parameter B0, shape parameter B1, for the F2 region. The simultaneous effects of geomagnetic storms on these parameters were investigated.

Keywords: Equatorial ionosphere, Magnetic storms, Electron density