An analytical model of the electron density profile in the ionosphere

Electron density height profiles and their first derivatives with height from the E region to the peak of the F2 layer, as calculated by inversion of ionogram traces, are reproduced with good accuracy by formally identical simple analytical functions, different from those used by other authors. The resulting electron density profile is continuous and without gradient discontinuities in the fist and second derivatives with height. The function chosen is such that the entire profile from the E to the F2 layer, can be calculated by knowing only the values of the electron density and height of: The peak of the F2 layer, the point of inflection below that peak, the maximum or point of inflection in the F1 layer, and the peak of the E region. It is shown that the empirical relations in /1/, found between the coordinates of a characteristic point below the F2 layer peak and ionospheric parameters read in the ionograms, can also be derived from the analytical function adopted to describe the electron density profile.