Global morphology of night-time <i>Nm</i>F2 enhancements

Abstract

An overall statistical study of night-time enhancements of NmF2 has been carried out. All available foF2 observations since 1955 at 53 ionosonde stations distributed worldwide in the latitude range fgeom = 15° - 60° were used in the analysis. More than 200 000 station-nights of data were analysed. This large data base allowed us to study seasonal, solar cycle and spatial variations of the NmF2 nighttime enhancements. Both pre-midnight and post-midnight NmF2 peaks demonstrate distinct variations with geophysical conditions, indicating different physical mechanisms responsible for their formation.Key words. Ionosphere (mid-latitude ionosphere, ionosphere-magnetosphere interactions) Radio science (ionospheric physics)