The Effect of Magnetic Storm of May 2010 on the F2 Layer over the Ilorin Ionosphere

ENGLISH/ ABSTRACT (ENGLISH/ ABSTRACT (ENGLISH/ ABSTRACT (ENGLISH/ ANGLAIS ) The effect of magnetic storm of May 2 to 3, 2010 and t hat of May 29 to 30, 2010 on the F2 -layer at Ilorin (Lat. 8:53°N, Long. 4.5°E.) was observed. An increase of about 65% in NmF2 was observed during the sudden commencement storm and 58% increase in the NmF2 was observed during the geomagnetic storm of May 29, 2010, when compared with the quiet day variations; we also observe an increase of about 28% in the hmF2 during the sudden commencement and also a decrease of 16% during the storm of May 29, 2010. All these features observed during the geomagnetic storm and quiet days have been explained in this study in terms of movement of ionization caused by the cross field of the electric field (E) and the earth's magnetic field B. It was also observed that the minimum value of DH field (at Ilorin, MAGDAS) during the magnetic storm days fairly corresponds to the Dst index (WDC Kyoto).