A note on an inversion algorithm for vertical ionograms for the prediction of plasma frequency profiles

TL;DR

This paper introduces an improved multi-quasi-parabolic inversion algorithm for vertical ionograms to accurately predict plasma frequency profiles, addressing previous inaccuracies and demonstrating strong agreement with observed data.

Contribution

It presents a refined, mathematically robust inversion method for ionogram analysis that improves upon prior approaches by ensuring continuity and smoothness in plasma layer modeling.

Findings

Accurately predicts plasma frequency profiles from ionograms.

Demonstrates excellent agreement with measured ionogram data.

Addresses and corrects previous mathematical inaccuracies.

Abstract

Building upon the concept of utilizing quasi-parabolic approximations to determine plasma frequency profiles from ionograms, we present a refined multi-quasi-parabolic method for modeling the E and F layers. While a recent study AIP Advances 14 065034 introduced an approach in this direction, we identified several inaccuracies in its mathematical treatment and numerical results. By addressing these issues, we offer a clearer exposition and a more robust algorithm. Our method assumes a parabolic profile for the E layer and approximates the F layer with a series of concatenated quasi-parabolic segments, ensuring continuity and smoothness by matching derivatives at the junctions. Applied to daylight ionograms from the Jicamarca Observatory in Lima, our inversion algorithm demonstrates excellent agreement between the synthetic ionograms generated from our predicted plasma frequency profiles and the original measured data.