Short-period solar cycle signals in the ionosphere observed by FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC

Abstract

We analyze 2 years of the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC GPS radio occultation data to study the response of the Earth's ionosphere to the solar rotation (27-day) induced solar flux variations. Here we report electron density variations in the ionosphere (∼100-500 km) associated with the 27-day solar cycle. The peak-to-peak variation in electron density at low latitudes in the F2 region is about ∼104-105 electrons CM-3 or 20-40%, and can be as high as 60% depending on altitude, latitude, and season. The half and double periods of the 27-day are also observed at an amplitude comparable to that of the 27-day. The results place useful constraints for modeling chemical and dynamical processes in the ionosphere. Copyright 2008 by the American Geophysical Union.