Author(s)

Abidina Diabaté¹, Frédéric Ouattara¹, Jean Louis Zerbo^1,2,3

¹Laboratoire de Recherche en Energétique et Météorologie de l’Espace (LAREME), Université Norbert Zongo, Koudougou, Burkina Faso.
²Université Nazi Boni, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
³Laboratoire d’Energies Thermiques Renouvelables (L.E.T.RE), Université Ouaga 1 Pr Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Geomagnetic activity is characterized by four solar wind conditions. Each condition has specific impact on ionosphere. This paper review on fluctuating activity effects on ionosphere F2 layer through its critical frequency foF2 variations. Under fluctuating wind conditions, we have investigated on annual, diurnal and seasonal variations of foF2 during solar cycles 21 and 22 phases covered by Ouagadougou ionosonde station data (Lat: 12.5°N; Long: 358.5°E; dip: 1.43°). Our investigations show that foF2 annual’ variability is in phase with solar cycle. The diurnal variation is “noon bite out” most of the time except for the solar maximum where we have a morning peak testifying to the fact that the vertical drift E × B is disturbed. The seasonal variations show that the fluctuating activity has no particular effect on certain characteristics of the equatorial ionosphere such as electrojet and vertical drift E × B. However, the increase of the electric field pre-reversal phenomenon in autumn is a characteristic effect observed during the fluctuating activity.

Critical Frequency, Solar Cycle, Seasonal, Diurnal, Fluctuating Activity

Diabaté, A. , Ouattara, F. and Zerbo, J. (2018) Annual and Diurnal Variabilities in the Critical Frequency (foF2) during Geomagnetic Fluctuating Activity over Solar Cycles 21 and 22 at Ouagadougou. Atmospheric and Climate Sciences, 8, 435-445. doi: 10.4236/acs.2018.84029.