Multifractal analysis of ionospheric F-layer dynamics at Jataí (lat. 17°52′. long. 51°43′), Brazil

• Published in: Advances in space research Vol. 75; no. 10; pp. 7645 - 7653
• Main Authors: Bolzan, M.J.A., Barbosa, E.A., da Silva, P.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.05.2025
• Subjects: F-layer; Ionosphere; Multifractal; Wavelet; Wavelet; F-layer; Ionosphere; Multifractal
• ISSN: 0273-1177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.asr.2025.02.043

•The ionosphere present always multifractal aspect due the fact this layer are constantly out-of-equilibrium due different physical mechanisms acting there.•The multifractal complexity of this layer is due different energy sources origins, troposphere and magnetosphere.•The ionosphere layer is subject to two distinct types of influence: external influences, which are promoted by CME and X-ray emissions from solar flares, and internal influences, which are promoted in the lower atmosphere. The virtual height of the F-layer ionosphere, h′F, is an important parameter to study in order to gain insight into its variability over the course of a year. Accordingly, the multifractal formalism was employed over the course of a year’s data set to gain insight into the underlying physical processes occurring in an environment characterised by significant intermittent activity. Moreover, the multifractal approach applied to this data demonstrates that measuring intermittency phenomena at different scales is crucial. The ionosphere layer consistently exhibits multifractal characteristics, irrespective of the energy source of the physical system, including coronal mass ejection (CME), planetary waves (PW), gravity waves (GW), and others. This evidence indicates that the ionosphere layer is also in a state out of equilibrium system, similar to that observed in the magnetosphere.