Correlation Analysis of Global Ionospheric Total Electron Content Maps in March 2015

The work presents an analysis of changes in the correlation coefficient between the total electron content variations at magnetically conjugate points calculated based on global ionospheric maps under quiet geomagnetic conditions and for the strong geomagnetic storm of March 17, 2015, the St. Patrick's storm. It is shown that there are extensive, high-latitude regions of significant correlation of the considered in variations during a geomagnetic storm at magnetically conjugate points. After a geomagnetic storm zones of anticorrelation of total electron content variations appear in magnetically conjugate regions. The calculated statistical relationships differ for global maps presented by different processing centers, but they retain common fundamental features. A comparison is also made of the correlation coefficients obtained from the results of model calculations of the global model of the upper atmosphere and from observational data.