F-region effects following two severe magnetic storms over Delhi

Abstract

F-region effects following two severe magnetic storms over Delhi are studied with N(h) profiles deduced from C4 ionograms. The major effects are a reduction in the electron density at heights above 200 km, and a considerable increase in the height of the maximum electron density, h_mF2, during the night; there being little or no change in h_mF2 during the sunlit hours. The effects are examined with the help of a parameter R₀, which is the ratio of the loss coefficient, β and the vertical transport velocity, w. The parameter R₀ is found to increase considerably on the storm nights. This increase is concluded as an increase in the loss coefficient and a decrease in the transport velocity. Further analysis of R₀ indicates that the transport velocity decreases with height on storm nights in contrast to an increase with height on quiet nights.