Mid- and High-Latitude Electron Temperature Dependence on Solar Activity in the Topside Ionosphere through the Swarm B Satellite Observations and the International Reference Ionosphere Model

0585426 - ÚFA 2025 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Pignalberi, A. - Truhlík, Vladimír - Giannattasio, F. - Coco, I. - Pezzopane, M.
Mid- and High-Latitude Electron Temperature Dependence on Solar Activity in the Topside Ionosphere through the Swarm B Satellite Observations and the International Reference Ionosphere Model.
Atmosphere. Roč. 15, č. 4 (2024), č. článku 490. E-ISSN 2073-4433
Institutional support: RVO:68378289
Keywords : electron temperature * topside ionosphere * solar activity variation * Swarm B satellite * international reference ionosphere model * incoherent scatter radar data
OECD category: Astronomy (including astrophysics,space science)
Impact factor: 2.9, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/4/490

This study focuses on the open question of the electron temperature (Te) variation with solar activity in the topside ionosphere at mid- and high latitudes. It takes advantage of in situ observations taken over a decade (2014–2023) from Langmuir probes on board the low-Earth-orbit Swarm B satellite and spanning an altitude range of 500–530 km. The study also includes a comparison with Te values modeled using the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model and with Millstone Hill (42.6° N. 71.5° W) incoherent scatter radar observations. The largest Te variation with solar activity was found at high latitudes in the winter season, where Te shows a marked decreasing trend with solar activity in the polar cusp and auroral regions and, more importantly, at sub-auroral latitudes in the nightside sector. Differently, in the summer season, Te increases with solar activity in the polar cusp and auroral regions, while for equinoxes, variations are smaller and less clear. Mid-latitudes generally show negligible Te variations with solar activity, which are mostly within the natural dispersion of Te observations. The comparison between measured and modeled values highlighted that future implementations of the IRI model would benefit from an improved description of the Te dependence on solar activity, especially at high latitudes.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0353136