Vertical plasma drift velocity of F2 layer inferred from ionosonde compared with IRI-2016 Model Over Chumphon, Thailand

Abstract

This paper presents the vertical plasma drifts velocity of the F2-layer (Vz-hmF2) compared with the IRI-2016 model. The Vz-hmF2 data was obtained from the equatorial ionosonde station at Chumphon (Lat. 10.72°N, Long. 99.37°E, Dip 3.0°N), Thailand. The Vz-hmF2 during low solar activity in 2010 was analyzed the daily and monthly variations between both the observed and the modelled. The results show the IRI-2016 model overestimates the observed Vz during noontime to midnight while it underestimates from pre-sunrise to noontime hours. The observed Vz changes from -60 to 110 m/s and the model varies between $\pm 20m/s$. This paper will be helpful the improvement of the IRI model in the future.