Verification of plasma chemical models of the ionospheric D region of the according to radiophysical data from Mikhnevo Geophysical Observatory

The results of a comparison of three different plasmochemical models of the ionospheric D region during C- and X-class X-ray flares are presented. Four-, five- and eight-component models describing the dynamics of the charged components of the medium are considered. To verify the results, we used data from ground-based radiophysical measurements obtained at Mikhnevo Geophysical Observatory. The height profiles of the electron density obtained from three models were used to calculate radio wave propagation on four midlatitude VLF paths (3–30 kHz). As a result of verification, it was found that the four- and five-component models describe the experimental data better than the eight-component model, both in calm heliogeophysical conditions and during natural disturbances.