Some Interesting Characteristics of F₂-Region at High Latitudes

Abstract

The vernal equinox virtual height (h'F) and critical frequency (f₀F₂) of F₂-layer data for 1958 widely distributed over the globe have been analysed to investigate some possible correlation among the various parameters of the F₂-region, particularly at high latitude stations. It has been shown that f₀F₂ is a function of magnetic dip of the place of observation not only for observatories at equatorial and tropical zones but also for observatories at middle and high latitudes. Consideration of the virtual height (h'F) and the magnetic dip (I) for a given value of f₀F₂ indicates that a given ionization of the region shifts with a vertical upward velocity gradient to higher magnetic dip value for increasing values of solar zenith distance (χ). Also, the data, when properly arranged, reveal that for a fixed value of χ, a given electron density in the F₂-region is attained at comparatively higher altitudes for stations having higher values of the magnetic dip (I).