The Variation of Ionospheric Slab Thickness during Geomagnetic Storms

TLDR: In this paper, a first-order estimate of the shape of the electron density profile, Nsube(h), is given by the ratio of the profile's total electron content (TEC) to its peak density (Nmax).

Abstract: : A first-order estimate of the shape of the electron density profile, Nsube(h), is given by the ratio of the profile's total electron content (TEC) to its peak density (Nmax). Applications to transionospheric and hf supported propagation can be aided by models of this quantity, tab and thus the BU/AFGL slab thickness model has been developed to describe the mean variations of slab thickness. In this paper addresses the issue of ;how geomagnetic disturbances affect tab at mid-latitudes, making use of a database of two solar cycles of observations from Hamilton (Ma) and Wallops Island (Va). These results are compared with those deduced from an Italian station pair(Florence and Rome).