Reconstruction of Electron-Density Height Profiles Based on Vertical Sounding Data under Multistratification of the E Region

A method is proposed for the determination of the height profiles of the electron-plasma frequency based on vertical-sounding ionograms with allowance for additional reflections of signals from the E2 layer and the sporadic Es layer. Two versions of the calculation of the profile for the E region are considered: with the parabolic model of electron density and with profiles from the IRI model. A method is proposed for the correction of models with allowance for the presence of the E2 and Es layers. The calculations demonstrate that nearly coinciding profiles in the F region, regardless of the model used for the E region, were obtained when the E2 and Es stratifications or their combinations were taken into account. The electron density valley in the interlayer EF region is absent in all calculations that take into account the E2 layer. In the presence of data on the absorption of signals reflecting from the E layer, additional correction of profiles from the IRI model is possible with these data. A method is proposed for such correction with the maximum change in the profile in the D region. The performed test of the technique based on data from four ground-rocket experiments demonstrates good agreement between the calculated profiles (in particular, with allowance for the E2 layer) and rocket measurements of the electron density in the E region.