The reshaped TEMp0 beam has a beam propagation factor M2≈(2p+1), and this yields to a relative improvement of the longitudinal resolution although the spot size is increased for reducing the processing time.
With the well known relationship between the propagation factor M 3000 F2 and the height of the F2 peak, hmF2, the long term systematic increase in M 3000 F2 corresponds to a decrease of hmF2.
The measured F2 peak height values, hmF2, are compared on one hand with IRI predictions that are obtained based on the CCIR model for the propagation factor M 3000 F2 and on the other hand with the ionosonde-measured M 3000 F2 values.
These parameters, or alternatively the propagation factor, M3000F2, and the critical frequency, foF2, of the F2 peak, which are related to hmF2 and NmF2, are used to anchor the electron density vertical profile computed with different models such as the International Reference Ionosphere (Bilitza, 2002), as well as for radio propagation forecast purposes.
(b) Same as Fig. 1, but for inverse of propagation factor (1/M 3000 F2) and equatorial vertical plasma drifts.
Fig. 3. (a) Same as Fig. 1, but for propagation factor (M 3000 F2) and equatorial vertical plasma drifts.
Percent normalized RMS errors for the altitude of the F2 peak, F2 critical frequency and propagation factor during 1987 low and 1990 high flux conditionsa.
The percent standard relative deviation of data from their respective medians for F2 peak altitude, F2 critical frequency, and propagation factor for 1987 low and 1990 high solar activity conditions.
Figure 10 gives a comparison of the local time changes in F2-layer critical frequency and corresponding changes in propagation factor during magnetically quiet and low solar flux conditions for the four seasons.
The plots in the upper left panel, upper right panel, lower left panel, and lower right panel in Fig. 6 shows comparisons for propagation factor between the ionosonde and IRI models for vernal equinox, June solstice, September equinox, and December solstice, respectively.
