Geomagnetic control of the electron density in the<i>F</i>region of the ionosphere

Abstract

The solution of a problem recently treated by Goldberg and Schmerling is written in a simple closed form. The problem concerns a possible explanation of the geomagnetic anomaly in terms of diffusion along the magnetic lines of force for a special model of the F2 layer at the magnetic equator. At great height the results obtained are roughly in agreement with observations made by the Alouette (S-27) satellite on October 3, 1962. The theoretical electron density at fixed height is given as a function of magnetic latitude for a wide range of expected conditions at various phases of the solar cycle. Curves showing the latitude variations of [∂(log N)/∂r]−1 at great height are also given. The results are discussed.