1. 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

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

3. 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

4. Analysis

5. Low Solar Activity

6. High Solar Activity

7. Total

8. StationLatitudeLongitude Thule77.5290.8 Dyess32.5260.3 Vanimo-2.7141.3 Grahamstown-33.326.5 Casey-66.3110.5 Test Case: Year = 2006

9. Comparisons with IRI

10. Equatorial Representation (Training Stations between -10 & +10) StationLatLong Port Moresby-9.4147.1 Ascension-7.912.4 Talara-4.6278.7 Vanimo-2.7141.3 Singapore1.3103.8 Bogota4.5285.8 Trivandrum8.577 Kwajalein9.1167.2

11. StationLatLong Port Moresby-9.4147.1 Ascension-7.912.4 Vanimo-2.7141.3 Fortaleza-3.8322 Sao Luis-2.6315.8 Equatorial prediction comparisons Stations used for analysis

12. low solar activity NRMSE Values

13. Sao Luis, -3.6:315.8

14. Vanimo -2.7, 141.3 Year = 2006

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

16.  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