Abstract
the calculated global mean values of the foF2 and hmF2 trends, however, are relatively small. Therefore, these small global trends can be neglected for practical purposes and must not be considered in ionospheric prediction models. This conclusion is in agreement with the results of other investigations
analyzing data of globally distributed stations. As shown with the data of the ionosonde station Tromsø, however, at individual stations the ionospheric trends may be markedly stronger and lead to essential effects in ionospheric radio propagation. The second part of the paper deals with the reasons for possible
trends in the Earths atmo- and ionosphere as investigated by different methods using characteristic parameters of the ionospheric D-, E-, and F-regions. Mainly in the F2-region different analyses have
been carried out. The derived trends are mainly discussed in connection with an increasing greenhouse effect or by long-term changes in geomagnetic activity. In the F1-layer the derived mean global trend
in foF1 is in good agreement with model predictions of an increasing greenhouse effect. In the E-region the derived trends in foE and h´E are compared with model results of an atmospheric greenhouse effect,
or explained by geomagnetic effects or other anthropogenic disturbances. The trend results in the D-region derived from ionospheric reflection height and absorption measurements in the LF, MF and HF
ranges can at least partly be explained by an increasing atmospheric greenhouse effect.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-3283
Published by INGV, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - ISSN: 2037-416X