Modeling the Plasma Frequency for F2-Region Using Modified Chapman Function and NeQuick2 Model over Different Geographical Locations and Months

Abstract

This study aims to modeling the plasma frequency profile of the F2 region as a function of geographical location and month of the y ear. The most important model and function used are Chapman function and NeQuick 2 model which have been defined both by exponential function. These models need some ionospheric parameters such as the critical frequency of F2 layer (foF2), maximum peak height (hmF2), semi thickness (ymF2), and the M factor (M (3000) F2). The results of these models are compared with the results of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model. For north hemisphere, the results of Chapman function has great fit with the results of IRI2012 model for low and high latitudes. For southern hemisphere the MAPE has greater values at high latitudes and drops to low latitudes. For NeQuick model, MAPE has a periodic behavior with latitudes. The monthly mean of the MAPE of the results obtained by modeling the plasma frequency profile using Chapman function and NeQuick2 model equal 0.466 and 0.259. The analysis of the MAPE for ten months gives a best correlation between the MAPE and foF2.

Keywords

• chapman function
• electron density
• empirical model
• f2- region
• ionosphere
• nequick model