Publication Date:
2020-02-24
Description:
A method for foF2 short-term forecast over Europe has been developed and implemented in
the EUROMAP model. The input-driving parameters are 3 h ap indices (converted to ap(τ)), effective
ionospheric T index, and real-time foF2 observations. The method includes local (for each station)
regression storm models to describe strong negative disturbances under ap(τ)〉30 and training models to
describe foF2 variations under ap(τ) ≤ 30. The derived model was tested in two regimes: descriptive when
observed 3 h ap indices were used and real forecast when predicted daily Ap were used instead of 3 h ap
indices—. In the case of strong negative disturbances the EUROMAP model demonstrates on average the
improvement over the lnternational Reference Ionosphere STORM-time correction model (IRI(STORM))
model: 40% in winter, 24% in summer, and 39% in equinox. The average improvement over climatology is
41% in winter, 59% in summer, and 55% in equinox. In the majority of cases this difference is statistically
significant. In the case of strong positive disturbances, higher-latitude stations also manifest a significant
difference between the twomodels but this difference is insignificant at lower latitude stations. The substitution
of 3 h ap input indices for the predicted daily Ap ones decreases the foF2 prediction accuracy in the case of
negative disturbances but practically has no effect with positive disturbances. In both cases the proposed
method manifests better accuracy than the IRI(STORM) model provides. The obtained results show a real
opportunity to provide foF2 forecast with the (1–24 h) lead time on the basis of predicted Ap indices
Description:
Published
Description:
253-270
Description:
2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosfera
Description:
JCR Journal
Description:
restricted
Keywords:
forecast
;
01. Atmosphere::01.02. Ionosphere::01.02.03. Forecasts
Repository Name:
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV)
Type:
article
