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We present the results of a study of the abnormal variations in the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere observed before the earthquake of January 12, 2010, in Haiti. Global and regional maps of TEC relative (%) deviations from the quite background state are built for January 9-12, 2010. Using the UAM (Upper Atmosphere Model) global numerical model of the upper atmosphere of the Earth, the variations in the electric potential in the ionosphere and TEC are calculated using external seismic current above faults between the Earth and the ionosphere as a lower boundary condition. The numerical simulation results are compared with observations. It is shown that the simulated variations in the TEC at a specified current density of about 1 x 10(-8) A/m(2) on an area of 200 km (latitude) x 4000 km (longitude) above the focus represent all main features of the observations: prevalence of increased TEC values (positive disturbances), neighboring negative disturbances of lower magnitudes, localization, magnetic conjugacy of high-intensity effects in the Southern Hemisphere, and disappearance of disturbances around midday. Methodological recommendations are given to reveal variations in the TEC related to the preparation of seismic events.
The results of numerical modeling by using the global upper atmosphere model of the Earth (UAM) for reproducing the peak F2 layer electron density (N (m) F2) and total electron content (TEC) during recovery period after the magnetic storm of the April 15-20, 2002 are discussed. According to the simulations, the time it takes to reach a stationary regime of N (m) F2 and TEC diurnal variations is 24 hours, much shorter then the plasmasphere refilling time. The results are compared with the predictions of the IRI-2007 empirical model and GPS data on the TEC and found in good quantitative agreement for the latitudinal variations of N (m) F2 and TEC for daytime conditions in the southern hemisphere. The worst agreement occurs in the region of the main ionospheric trough.
The main morphological features of variations of the total electron content (TEC) of the ionosphere before the earthquakes on March 11, 2011 (Japan) and October 23, 2011 (Turkey) are examined. The revealed features are compared to those of ionospheric TEC disturbances observed prior to several other large seismic events, as well as to those included in a list of the most frequently observed ionospheric TEC disturbances interpreted as possible ionospheric precursors of earthquakes. It is shown that, in the periods of preparation of the earthquakes under consideration, on March 8-11 and October 20-23, abnormal ionospheric TEC disturbances were observed as long-lived structures in a near-epicentral region and in the region magnetically conjugated to it.