A new global foF2 model for the International Reference Ionosphere 1,2 Lee-Anne McKinnell 3 Elijah Oyeyemi 1 Physics Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa 2 Space Physics Group, Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (HMO), Hermanus, South Africa 3 Department of Physics, University Of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Global foF2 model neural network based 135 ionosonde stations included predicts foF2 parameter across the globe mostly data from 1995 – 2005

Day Number Universal Time Zenith Angle Geographic Latitude Magnetic Inclination Magnetic Declination Magnetic Index Solar Index Angle of Meridian Latitude Longitude Year Day Number Hour NN Model foF2 GLOBAL foF2 MODEL

Analysis

Low Solar Activity

High Solar Activity

Total

StationLatitudeLongitude Thule Dyess Vanimo Grahamstown Casey Test Case: Year = 2006

Comparisons with IRI

Equatorial Representation (Training Stations between -10 & +10) StationLatLong Port Moresby Ascension Talara Vanimo Singapore Bogota Trivandrum8.577 Kwajalein

StationLatLong Port Moresby Ascension Vanimo Fortaleza Sao Luis Equatorial prediction comparisons Stations used for analysis

low solar activity NRMSE Values

Sao Luis, -3.6:315.8

Vanimo -2.7, Year = 2006

Summary NN Model can predict accurate foF2 values across the globe however

 magnetic storm time analysis  equatorial sector analysis  high latitude sector analysis  analysis of suitability over the ocean areas  inclusion of more equatorial & high latitude data  reworking of input parameters to tie in with current IRI inputs  re-analyse the relative importance of input parameters Requirements