Equatorial F2 characteristic variability: A review of recent observations

This paper reviews the variability of equatorial/low latitude F2 characteristics with emphasis on the most general results reported by authors. On a general note, diurnal variation of ionospheric F2 layer characteristics coefficient of variability (CV) is characterised by post- and pre-midnight peaks at all seasons, epochs and longitude. The post-midnight peak is greater than pre-midnight peak for all the characteristics considered except h’F2 CV during high solar activity (HSA) possibly due to occurrence of post-sunset pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) in height of reflection prominent during HSA. NmF2 CV is greater than CV of MUF and h’F2. MUF CV and foF2 CV are of the same order of magnitude. While seasonal trend is little or nil in daytime CV of F2 layer characteristics, nighttime CV is greater in general at the equinoxes and June Solstice. Nighttime F2 layer characteristics CV are found to decrease with increasing sunspot. This is not the case with daytime CV. Except for h’F2 CV, daytime CV of F2 layer characteristics are independent of latitude while nighttime CV decreases with latitude. Equatorial stations east (Vanimo, 2.7°S, 141.3°E, dip 22.5°S) and west (Huancayo, 12°S, 75.3°W, dip 1.9°N) of the Greenwich Meridian (GM) have greater nighttime CV than those in the neighbourhood of the GM (Ouagadougou, 12.4°N, 1.5°W, dip 7.6°N) with those stations west of GM having the greatest CV, implying longitudinal effect on CV. During magnetic storms CV are reported to be greater than during quiet periods.