A fully analytic, low‐ and middle‐latitude ionospheric model

A fully analytic ionospheric model emphasizing the low‐latitude F region for various seasonal and solar cycle conditions is presented. Features such as the postsunset rise in the F layer peak height and the “equatorial anomaly” maxima in plasma density near ±15° geomagnetic latitude are designed to closely approximate those in the semiempirical low‐latitude ionospheric model (Anderson et al., 1987a). Significant improvements are thus obtained over previous comparable analytic models. Numerical computations are also presented which demonstrate the importance of these large‐scale plasma structures to the neutral dynamics of the low‐latitude thermosphere. Equally significant effects are anticipated for electrodynamic simulations of E region/F region coupling involving flux tube integrated electrical conductivities.