Mid- and Low-Latitude Earth Ionospheric Phenomena and Current Status of Research

Abstract

The Earth's ionosphere is an area where part of the upper atmosphere is ionized and exists in a plasma state that affects radio waves. It is a field that has been studied for a long time as it directly affects real life in relation to communications. Depending on the altitude, it is divided into D, E, and F layers depending on the main ions that make up the electron density. The density of the neutral atmosphere is very large compared to the electron density, so it should be described as plasma taking that effect into account. It is an area where influences from outside the ionosphere are directly reflected, starting from the sun and extending to the earth's surface, and is a field that involves complex and diverse areas of research. In this paper, we explain the process by which the Earth's upper atmosphere is ionized to form the ionosphere and introduce the characteristics of the ionosphere at low and mid-latitudes. In addition, we introduce the research that domestic researchers have participated in related to the ionosphere to date and hope that it will be used to promote exchange in the field of ionospheric research in the future.