Geomagnetic and ionospheric data analysis over Antarctica: a contribution to the long term trends investigation

The analysis of the f oF2 ionosonde data acquired at mid and high latitudes reveals a general decreasing of the F2 plasma frequency over more than two solar cycles, showing steeper trends over the high latitude stations and, in particular, over Antarctica. A careful analysis of the f oF2 hourly data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Main Authors: Alfonsi, Lu., De Franceschi, G., De Santis, A.
Other Authors: Alfonsi, Lu.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, De Franceschi, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, De Santis, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: EGU - Copernicus Publications 2008
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Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2122/3892
http://www.ann-geophys.net/26/1173/2008/
Description
Summary:The analysis of the f oF2 ionosonde data acquired at mid and high latitudes reveals a general decreasing of the F2 plasma frequency over more than two solar cycles, showing steeper trends over the high latitude stations and, in particular, over Antarctica. A careful analysis of the f oF2 hourly data, opportunely catalogued in different levels of magneto-ionospheric conditions, highlights the role of the geomagnetic activity in the secular change of the ionosphere and confirms the latitudinal dependence of the trends. These results suggest interesting relations with some recent findings on the rapid decrease of some important physical and statistical quantities related to the geomagnetic field over the whole globe and mainly in Antarctica. In this paper we discuss the possibility of a connection between the ionospheric trends and a possible imminent geomagnetic reversal or excursion. Published 1173-1179 3.9. Fisica della magnetosfera, ionosfera e meteorologia spaziale JCR Journal reserved