Evaluating the IRI topside model for the South African region: An overview of the modelling techniques

Sibanda, Patrick; McKinnell, Lee-Anne

Title: Evaluating the IRI topside model for the South African region: An overview of the modelling techniques
Creator: Sibanda, Patrick
Creator: McKinnell, Lee-Anne
Date Issued: 2009
Date: 2009
Type: text
Type: Article
Identifier: vital:6810
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004303
Description: The representation of the topside ionosphere (the region above the F2 peak) is critical because of the limited experimental data available. Over the years, a wide range of models have been developed in an effort to represent the behaviour and the shape of the electron density (Ne) profile of the topside ionosphere. Various studies have been centred around calculating the vertical scale height (VSH) and have included (a) obtaining VSH from Global Positioning System (GPS) derived total electron content (TEC), (b) calculating the VSH from ground-based ionosonde measurements, (c) using topside sounder vertical Ne profiles to obtain the VSH. One or a combination of the topside profilers (Chapman function, exponential function, sech-squared (Epstein) function, and/or parabolic function) is then used to reconstruct the topside Ne profile. The different approaches and the modelling techniques are discussed with a view to identifying the most adequate approach to apply to the South African region’s topside modelling efforts. The IRI-2001 topside model is evaluated based on how well it reproduces measured topside profiles over the South African region. This study is a first step in the process of developing a South African topside ionosphere model.
Format: 17 pages
Format: pdf
Language: English
Relation: Sibanda, P. and McKinnell, Lee-Anne (2009) Evaluating the IRI topside model for the South African region: an overview of the modelling techniques. Advances in Space Research, 44 (6). pp. 707-714. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2009.04.032

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McKinnell, Lee-Anne (Dr)

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