Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa

Abstract A new localized linear regression model, called the SANSA model, is presented. The model provides a forecast of the F‐region critical frequency (foF2) over Grahamstown, South Africa (33.31°S, 26.52°E). The input parameters of this model are the maximum daily solar elevation angle, the F10.7...

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Main Authors: S. Brijraj, P. J. Cilliers, M. Kosch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-08-01
Series:Space Weather
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003482
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author S. Brijraj
P. J. Cilliers
M. Kosch
author_facet S. Brijraj
P. J. Cilliers
M. Kosch
author_sort S. Brijraj
collection DOAJ
description Abstract A new localized linear regression model, called the SANSA model, is presented. The model provides a forecast of the F‐region critical frequency (foF2) over Grahamstown, South Africa (33.31°S, 26.52°E). The input parameters of this model are the maximum daily solar elevation angle, the F10.7 cm radio flux index and the planetary K index. The output parameter is the forecasted foF2. The historical data‐set consists of ionosonde foF2 observations made in Grahamstown for the period 2010–2019. The historical and predicted data sets used to develop the model are obtained from databases maintained by the South African National Space Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The model improves on the results of the Ionospheric Communications Enhanced Profile Analysis and Circuit Prediction Program in terms of the root mean square error skill score metric. The work presented shows that a linear regression model based on the solar elevation angle as well as the F10.7 and planetary K indices can closely approximate observed foF2 magnitudes during quiet and storm times.
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spelling doaj-art-cf070f78a3444af8bb321c1fc02bf8822025-01-14T16:31:19ZengWileySpace Weather1542-73902023-08-01218n/an/a10.1029/2023SW003482Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern AfricaS. Brijraj0P. J. Cilliers1M. Kosch2Space Science South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Hermanus South AfricaSpace Science South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Hermanus South AfricaSpace Science South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Hermanus South AfricaAbstract A new localized linear regression model, called the SANSA model, is presented. The model provides a forecast of the F‐region critical frequency (foF2) over Grahamstown, South Africa (33.31°S, 26.52°E). The input parameters of this model are the maximum daily solar elevation angle, the F10.7 cm radio flux index and the planetary K index. The output parameter is the forecasted foF2. The historical data‐set consists of ionosonde foF2 observations made in Grahamstown for the period 2010–2019. The historical and predicted data sets used to develop the model are obtained from databases maintained by the South African National Space Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The model improves on the results of the Ionospheric Communications Enhanced Profile Analysis and Circuit Prediction Program in terms of the root mean square error skill score metric. The work presented shows that a linear regression model based on the solar elevation angle as well as the F10.7 and planetary K indices can closely approximate observed foF2 magnitudes during quiet and storm times.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003482ionospherecritical frequencymodelingspace‐weatherforecast
spellingShingle S. Brijraj
P. J. Cilliers
M. Kosch
Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
Space Weather
ionosphere
critical frequency
modeling
space‐weather
forecast
title Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
title_full Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
title_fullStr Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
title_full_unstemmed Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
title_short Development of a Regional F‐Region Critical Frequency Model for Southern Africa
title_sort development of a regional f region critical frequency model for southern africa
topic ionosphere
critical frequency
modeling
space‐weather
forecast
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023SW003482
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AT mkosch developmentofaregionalfregioncriticalfrequencymodelforsouthernafrica