Authors:
Maltseva Olga
;
Mozhaeva Natalia
and
Vinnik Elena
Affiliation:
Southern Federal University, Russian Federation
Keyword(s):
GPS. Total electron content. Ionospheric model. Radio wave propagation. Geomagnetic disturbances. CHAMP. DMSP
Abstract:
An empirical modeling of the behavior of ionospheric parameters is an important goal. The most complicated it is for the total electron content (TEC). The article focuses on two approaches: 1) the integration of N(h)-profiles using empirical parameters foF2 and hmF2, 2) the use of experimental values of the TEC. In recent years, two new models were developed: 1) IRI-Plas as a representative of the first approach, and 2) the Neustrelitz Global Model (NGM) as a representative of the second approach. Both models have their advantages over previous models. Any new model needs to be tested to get a quantitative estimate of proximity between the model and experiment, but both models have not been tested yet by anyone other than the authors of models. This article is dedicated to such testing. Besides the traditional comparison of model parameters foF2 and TEC with experimental data, in the paper the testing of additional parameters was performed with the help of independent experiments. Fo
r the IRI-Plas model, these are N(h)-profiles, data of incoherent scatter radars, and plasma frequency, measured at a height of satellites. For the NGM model, this is the equivalent slab thickness of the ionosphere τ. For the European region, it is
shown that in most cases, the IRI-Plas model may be preferred to determine the parameters foF2 and TEC. For the parameter τ(NGM), there are conditions under which τ(NGM) provides better results than τ(IRI).
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