Influence of the periodic changes in the incoming solar hydrogen Ly-α radiation intensity on the total electron content in the ionospheric D-region

Abstract

This paper analyzes variations in the total electron content in the D-region induced by periodical changes in the solar hydrogen Lyα radiation. The considered changes are a consequence of variations in the solar radiation intensity during a solar cycle and a consequence of the Earth's revolution. The presented analysis is based on the Quiet ionospheric D-region (QIonDR) model, which shows the dependencies of ionospheric parameters on the smoothed daily sunspot number and season. We consider the vertical and slant (for different zenith angles) total electron content in the D-region (TECD) which are important for calculations of delays of satellite signals. The obtained results show a significant influence of the considered zenith angle and period of the solar cycle and season on calculating the considered ionospheric parameter.