Testing of new ionospheric models along the meridian 110° E over the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract

Despite the continuous improvement of the widely used empirical model international reference ionosphere (IRI), the recently appeared new models must be tested worldwide. Testing along the meridians has the advantage of dealing with the latitudinal dependent parameters. This paper uses new models of parameters foF2 (critical frequency), TEC (total electron content), and τ (equivalent slab thickness of the ionosphere), which are of great importance for evaluating the effects of space weather. IRI-Plas, NNT2F2, and NTSM models were tested using data from 6 ionosondes located along the meridian 110° E in March 2012. It is shown that the IRI-Plas model provides the closest values to experiment with respect to τ, while the NTSM model provides a rather limited reflection of the latitude dependence. Analyses of foF2(NNT2F2) have shown that, the NNT2F2 model provides good conformity with experimental values in this area, but it is very dependent on the TEC processing method. The latitudinal dependences of foF2 obtained with TEC and polynomial dependence τ(Appr) showed the presence of positive deviations from medians not only during disturbances but also quiet periods, longitudinally at the meridian.