About possibility to use the data of navigation satellites in high latitudes

The majority of ionospheric models are climatologic, including the International Reference Ionosphere model IRI used in the present paper. Adaptation of model to parameters of current diagnostics is necessary for interpretation of results of measurements in specific days and investigation of features of HF propagation along parts. The most widespread and accessible parameter is a critical frequency foF2, however in high-latitude zones there are no enough ionosondes. It is shown that usage of the total electron content of the ionosphere TEC measured by navigation satellites allows us to fill this gap however a discrepancy with the experimental values of maximum usable frequency MUF is preserved. The full correspondence of model and observational MUF can be achieved by adaptation of the model to values of a maximum height hmF2. It is indicated that as ionosondes do not always provide the information about hmF2, it is necessary to attract the data of low-orbiting satellites. Conclusions were made according to data of high-latitude Russian paths in length from 400 to more than 4,000 km in quiet conditions of February 2014.