Ionospheric response to magnetic activity at low and mid-latitude stations

<p>The <em>F</em>2-layer response to the moderate storm of 5\textendash7 April 2010 was investigated using data from two equatorial stations (Ilorin: lat. 8.5\textdegreeN, 4.5\textdegreeE; Kwajalein: lat. 9\textdegreeN, long. 167.2\textdegreeE) and mid-latitude (San Vito: lat. 40.6\textdegreeN, long. 17.8\textdegreeE; Pruhonice: lat. 50\textdegreeN, long. 14.6\textdegreeE). Before storm commencement, enhancement, and depletion of <em>NmF</em>2 values were observed in the equatorial and mid-latitude stations, respectively, indicating the latitudinal dependence of the pre-storm event. All the stations with the exception of Kwajalein show positive phase in <em>NmF</em>2 response at the storm onset stage. Positive phase in <em>NmF</em>2 continues over Ilorin and appears on the daytime ionosphere of Kwajalein on 6 April, whereas negative phase suppressed the positive feature in Pruhonice and San Vito until the recovery condition. The differences in the response of <em>F</em>2-layer to the storm for the two equatorial stations were attributed to their longitudinal differences. On the average, both the<em>AE</em> and <em>D</em> _<em>st</em>indices revealed poor correlation relationship. More studies are required to ascertain this finding.</p>