Improving the M(3000)-hmF2 relation Original Research Article

Obrou et al. [Adv. Space Res. 31 (3), 513–520, 2003] found deviations from the M(3000)F2-hmF2 relation incorporated in the IRI in the neighborhood of the dip equator. These should not be resolved by omitting the well-founded correction term describing the influence of lower layers. Instead, an additional term is proposed to take account of the true, off-parabolic, layer shape that is deformed by the action of plasma lift in the equatorial “fountain phenomenon”.