Correlation Properties of the Samplings of Variations in the F2-Layer Critical Frequency in Various Solar and Geophysical Conditions

Abstract

The temporal and spatial correlation of variations in the F2-layer critical frequency in various solar and geophysical conditions are considered based on a large array of experimental data. The possible extrapolation of ionospheric observational data is studied based on the obtained results on the stability of the correlation in time and space. It is shown that it is possible to use the obtained results for rapid short-term ionospheric forecast. Moreover, the data on the temporal and spatial correlation radius (at the level of a few hours and thousand kilometers) are used to study the irregular structure of the ionosphere and to determine the characteristic dimension of large-scale irregularities and apparent velocities of their motion.