NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas VTEC predictions for low latitude and South American sector

Using vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements obtained from GPS satellite signals the capability of the NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas models to predict VTEC over the low latitude and South American sector is analyzed. In the present work both models were used to calculate VTEC up to the height of GPS satellites. Also, comparisons between the performance of IRI Plas and IRI 2007 have been done. The data correspond to June solstice and September equinox 1999 (high solar activity) and they were obtained at nine stations. The considered latitude range extends from 18.4°N to ?64.7°N and the longitude ranges from 281.3°E to 295.9°E in the South American sector. The greatest discrepancies among model predictions and the measured VTEC are obtained at low latitudes stations placed in the equatorial anomaly region. Underestimations as strong as 40?TECU [1?TECU?=?10¹⁶?m^?2] can be observed at BOGT station for September equinox, when NeQuick2 model is used. The obtained results also show that: (a) for June solstice, in general the performance of IRI Plas for low latitude stations is better than that of NeQuick2 and, vice versa, for highest latitudes the performance of NeQuick2 is better than that of IRI Plas. For the stations TUCU and SANT both models have good performance; (b) for September equinox the performances of the models do not follow a clearly defined pattern as in the other season. However, it can be seen that for the region placed between the Northern peak and the valley of the equatorial anomaly, in general, the performance of IRI Plas is better than that of NeQuick2 for hours of maximum ionization. From TUCU to the South, the best TEC predictions are given by NeQuick2.The source of the observed deviations of the models has been explored in terms of CCIR foF2 determination in the available ionosonde stations in the region. Discrepancies can be also related to an unrealistic shape of the vertical electron density profile and or an erroneous prediction of the plasmaspheric contribution to the vertical total electron content. Moreover, the results of this study could be suggesting that in the case of NeQuick, the underestimation trend could be due to the lack of a proper plasmaspheric model in its topside representation. In contrast, the plasmaspheric model included in IRI, leads to clear overestimations of GPS derived TEC.     

Ionospheric climate index as a driving parameter for the NeQuick model

Ionospheric delay is one of the significant error sources for global navigation satellite system (GNSS) positioning. GNSSs broadcast the coefficients of the ionospheric model to correct ionospheric delay for single-frequency users. A modified three-dimensional model (NeQuick G) based on the NeQuick climatological model is adopted for Galileo users. The NeQuick G model uses the effective ionization level (Az) instead of the sunspot number as the driving parameter. In this study, we introduce the ionospheric climate index (ICI) as a new driving parameter for the NeQuick model. In comparison, the ICI-driven NeQuick model has a better performance than the Az-driven NeQuick G model at both low and high latitudes. In addition, only one GNSS station at low latitudes is required to calculate the ICI, which would save maintenance costs and improve the efficiency of updating the broadcast coefficients. This model has potential application value for future upgrades of Galileo’s ionospheric broadcast model.     

Comparing TOPEX TEC measurements with IRI predictions

TEC values obtained from TOPEX satellite were compared with the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) 2001 model estimates. The present work also shows results of the IRI model with the option of a new topside electron density distribution (NeQuick model). TOPEX TEC measurements, which include years of high and middle to low solar activity (2000 and 2004), were analyzed by binning the region covered by the satellite (±66°) every five degrees of modip. In general, there is good agreement between IRI predictions and Topex measurements. Cases with large disagreements are observed at low and high latitudes during high solar activity. Comparing the model predictions using the default IRI2001 model and the NeQuick topside option show that the default IRI 2001 version represents the observed data in a more realistic way, but appears to be less reliable at high and low latitudes in some cases.     

Comparison of topside electron density computed by ionospheric models and plasma density observed by DMSP satellites

Electron density obtained by IRI (topside options NeQuick and IRI-Corr) and NeQuick models in their standard versions have been compared with plasma density values measured by F13 and F15 DMSP satellites for years of different solar activities. A statistical study of the differences between modeled and experimental data has been carried out to investigate each model performance.     

基于NTCM-BC模型的全球卫星导航系统单频电离层延迟修正

选择NTCM-BC模型作为单频电离层延迟修正模型,通过非线性最小二乘拟合的方法,利用提前一天预测的电离层图（COPG文件）,计算得到NTCM-BC模型修正系数;利用Klobuchar模型和IGS发布的GIM数据对NTCM-BC模型进行比较和分析.对太阳活动高、中、低年实测数据的分析结果表明:全球平均水平上,NTCM-BC模型的电离层延迟修正性能明显优于Klobuchar模型,NTCM-BC模型的TEC平均误差和均方根误差比Klobuchar模型分别下降了41%和30%;模型的TEC计算误差与太阳活动剧烈程度成正相关,即太阳活动高年模型误差较大,太阳活动低年误差相对较低.相较于磁静日,磁扰日期间Klobuchar模型和NCTM模型的误差均有一定程度的增加.此外,模型的电离层修正误差同时存在明显的纬度、季节和地方时差异.      

NeQuick2 validation using multi-satellite and ground data

Global Navigation Satellite System’s (GNSS) positioning calculation is prone to ionospheric errors. Single frequency GNSS users receive ionospheric corrections through broadcast ionospheric models. Therefore, the accuracy of ionospheric models must be validated based on various geographic and geomagnetic conditions. In this work, an attempt is made to validate NeQuick2 electron density (Ne) using multiple sources of space-based and ground-based data at the Arabian Peninsula and for low solar activity conditions. These sources include space-based data from Swarm, DMSP and COSMIC-2 satellite constellations and ground-based data from GNSS receiver and the ionosonde. The period of this study is 1 year from October 2019 to September 2020. Analysis shows that the agreement between NeQuick2 and experimental Ne close to the peak density height depends on seasons and time of the day with the largest errors found in Autumn and during the daytime. NeQuick2 generally overestimates Ne during the daytime. During the early morning and evening hours, Ne estimates seem to be fairly accurate with slight underestimation in Winter and Spring. Estimation of slab thickness by NeQuick2 is found to be close to the values calculated using collocated ionosonde and GNSS receiver.     

一种基于系数择优的低阶球谐电离层延迟改正模型

针对单频接收机的电离层延迟改正问题, 提出了一种基于系数择优的低阶球谐电离层延迟改正模型. 按照电离层延迟改正模型参数择优问题的描述, 明确参数优化的目标和约束条件, 根据参数选择可编码的特点, 提出了利用遗传算法进行参数择优的方法及步骤. 以欧洲定轨中心(CODE)提供的电离层数据作为参考标准, 对参数择优模型、 低阶球谐模型和Klobuchar模型模拟的区域电离层VTEC精度进行了比较分析. 结果表明, 较之相同系数个数的低阶球谐模型, 参数择优模型精度平均改进了1～2TECU, 而且比Klobuchar模型及低阶球谐模型能更好地反映电离层的周日变化及纬度变化特征.      

GNSS电离层模型改正精度评估与分析

电离层时延误差是导航定位信号在空间传播路径上的主要误差源之一,因此全面了解GNSS电离层模型的改正精度具有一定现实意义.根据GPS,BDS和Galileo系统所采用的电离层修正模型,利用2014年电离层校正参数,以高精度全球电离层图为基准,评估分析了三大系统电离层时延的改正精度.结果表明:目前GNSS使用的几种电离层修正模型的改正率在65~75%左右;Galileo系统使用的第二版NeQuick模型与第一版NeQuick模型相比在修正精度上并无显著提高;GPS使用的Klobuchar 8参数模型在北半球25°-45°N的中纬度地区精度很高,但是在全球其他区域精度较低,分布性较差,而NeQuick模型全球改正率分布则较为平均且平滑.      

NeQuick模式在亚太地区扇区电离层参数f0F2的预测能力

利用亚洲、澳大利亚地区8个电离层观测台站的F2层临界频率f0F2的历史观测数据,考察了NeQuick模式预报电离层基本参数f0F2在亚太扇区的适应性.对比分析表明,此模式能比较好地预测各地的F2层临界频率,其绝对误差在南半球各站相对北半球各站较大,太阳活动高年相对太阳活动低年较大,春秋季相对夏冬季较大.其误差均方根在太阳活动高年相对太阳活动低年较大.      

On the use of NeQuick topside option in IRI-2007

The latest version of IRI includes various options for the computation of the topside electron density profile. One of the possible choices is based on NeQuick model. Its inclusion in IRI has been made transferring all the formulations used in NeQuick model. In details, an Epstein layer function is used to describe the electron density profile and the topside shape is controlled by an empirical parameter, connected to the NeQuick F2 bottomside thickness parameter, B2bot. It is computed also in this IRI topside option in order to maintain self-consistency with its original formulation. This paper analyses the possibility of using the IRI bottomside parameters for this option and its impact on the profile and TEC. The case of experimental peak values given as input is also analysed.     

Correction of B2bot for NeQuick during low solar activity at Hainan station

This work is a continuation of the previous article and it focuses on low solar activity and modeling effort. NeQuick model uses Epstein layer formalism to model each part of the profile. We study the diurnal and seasonal variations of B2_bot, ΔB2 (B2_best − B2_NeQuick2) and R (B2_best/B2_{NeQuick 2}) at Hainan station during low solar activity. The results show it is possible to improve the B2_bot parameter of the NeQuick model at that region during low solar activity. Then, we use a function ?(t) with LT in different seasons to correct the B2_bot formula of NeQuick 2. The correction shows that (1) By the correction formula, the B2_bot of NeQuick is improved. The maximum standard deviation is improved for 9 km. (2) The correction formula is more effective in summer than in equinox and winter and performs better during early morning hours than during the rest of the day.     

ESA UGI (Unified-GNSS-Ionosphere): An open-source software to compute precise ionosphere estimates

Ionospheric estimation is becoming more and more important for the new multifrequency positioning algorithms, since they can help to improve greatly the convergence time for acquiring a good positioning error. In this paper, an open source tool to estimate precise ionospheric estimates is presented, namely ESA UGI (Unified-GNSS-Ionosphere). The presentation is done jointly with a methodology to test ionospheric model using a modified NeQuick to generate synthetic data. The results with different option of the ESA UGI shows that it has a good performance below 1 TECU (Total Electron Content Units) in vTEC (vertical Total Electron Content) RMS (Root Mean Squared) for European networks, around 2 TECU in a well-covered African region and between 1 and 6 TECU globally with this synthetic data. It shows as well the capability of changing between different ionosphere models (voxel, multilayer and spherical harmonics) and configuration options. Finally, a test with uncombined PPP actual data is presented showing that instantaneous convergence below 30 cm in 3D RMS position error are achievable in a well sounded area in Europe.     

Comparison of GPS-TEC measurements with NeQuick2 and IRI model predictions in the low latitude East African region during varying solar activity period (1998 and 2008–2015)

This paper examines the performances of NeQuick2, the latest available IRI-2016, IRI-2012 and IRI-2007 models in describing the monthly and seasonal mean total electron content (TEC) over the East African region. This is to gain insight into the success of the various model types and versions at characterizing the ionosphere within the equatorial ionization anomaly. TEC derived from five Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers installed at Addis Ababa (ADD, 5.33°N, 111.99°E Geog.), Asab (ASAB, 8.67°N, 116.44°E Geog.), Ambo (ABOO, 5.43°N, 111.05°E Geog.), Nairobi (RCMN, ?4.48°N, 108.46°E Geog.) and Nazret (NAZR, 4.78°N, 112.43°E Geog.), are compared with the corresponding values computed using those models during varying solar activity period (1998 and 2008–2015). We found that different models describe the equatorial and anomaly region ionosphere best depending on solar cycle, season and geomagnetic activity levels. Our results show that IRI-2016 is the best model (compared to others in terms of discrepancy range) in estimating the monthly mean GPS-TEC at NAZR, ADD and RCMN stations except at ADD during 2008 and 2012. It is also found that IRI-2012 is the best model in estimating the monthly mean TEC at ABOO station in 2014. IRI show better agreement with observations during June solstice for all the years studied at ADD except in 2012 where NeQuick2 better performs. At NAZR, NeQuick2 better performs in estimating seasonal mean GPS-TEC during 2011, while IRI models are best during 2008–2009. Both NeQuick2 and IRI models underestimate measured TEC for all the seasons at ADD in 2010 but overestimate at NAZR in 2009 and RCMN in 2008. The periodic variations of experimental and modeled TEC have been compared with solar and geomagnetic indices at ABOO and ASAB in 2014 and results indicate that the F10.7 and sunspot number as indices of solar activity seriously affects the TEC variations with periods of 16–32?days followed by the geomagnetic activity on shorter timescales (roughly periods of less than 16?days). In this case, NeQuick2 derived TEC shows better agreement with a long term period variations of GPS-TEC, while IRI-2016 and IRI-2007 show better agreement with observations during short term periodic variations. This indicates that the dependence of NeQuick2 derived TEC on F10.7 is seasonal. Hence, we suggest that representation of geomagnetic activity indices is required for better performance over the low latitude region.     

A study of long-term climatology of ionospheric irregularities by using GPS phase fluctuations at the Brazilian longitudes

We have examined the ionospheric plasma irregularities that were recorded by using three ground-based receivers of the global positioning system (GPS) located at Brazilian longitudes during the period of a complete solar cycle, 1995–2005. The statistic results show that ionospheric irregularities are very easy to occur in December solstice months but rare to occur in June solstice months. Besides, the occurrence rates of irregularities in both December and June solstice months are little dependent on solar activity. However, in equinoctial months, the development of irregularities is obviously dependent on solar activity. There is a new finding in this study that if strong irregularities are distinguished from moderate ones, their occurrence rates would increase with solar activity during the December solstice months.     

Observations of ionospheric irregularities and its correspondence with sporadic e occurrence over South Korea and Japan

This study analyzed the occurrence of ionospheric irregularities over South Korea and Japan (mid-latitudes) during the years 2010–2015. The irregularities were quantified using the rate of change of total electron content (TEC) index (ROTI), which detects irregularities with scale sizes in the range of 400 m–2.5 km. The ROTI threshold for an ionospheric irregularity to have occurred was set as 0.1 TECU/min. Results showed that ionospheric irregularities mostly occur during night-time and around local noon-time in the seasons of spring and summer. In addition, the percentage of ionospheric irregularities had a high positive correlation with solar flux (F10.7) (r > 0.72). For the first time, we showed good correspondence between ionospheric irregularities measured by the ROTI index and sporadic E (Es). The median ROTI associated with ionospheric irregularities over a South Korea station (DAEJ) and a Japan station (KGNI) were 0.131 and 0.125 TECU/min, respectively. However, in severe cases of ionospheric irregularities, the ROTI values over DAEJ (KGNI) can reach 0.246 (0.217) and 0.314 (0.339) TECU/min during day and night, respectively. These critical ROTI values can be important in interpreting and monitoring ionospheric irregularity occurrence over South Korea and Japan.     

Analysis of global TEC prediction performance of IRI-PLAS model

The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) empirical model provides valuable data for many fields including space and navigation applications. Since the IRI model gives the ionospheric parameters in the altitude range from 50?km to 2000?km, researchers focused on the IRI-PLAS model which is the plasmasphere extension of the IRI model. In this study, Total Electron Content (TEC) prediction performance of the IRI-PLAS model was examined at a global scale using the location of globally distributed 9 IGS stations. Besides the long term (01.01.2015–31.12.2015) behavior of the model, TEC predictions during the equinox and solstice days of 2014–2017 were also tested. IRI-PLAS-TEC values were examined in comparison with GPS-TEC data. Hourly interval of yearly profile exhibits that when the geomagnetic and solar active days are ignored, differences between IRI-PLAS-TEC and GPS-TEC are rather small (～2–3 TECU) at stations in the northern hemisphere, generally ～4–5 TECU level at the southern hemisphere stations and reaching above 10 TECU for few hours. While the IRI-PLAS-TEC generally overestimates the GPS-TEC at southern hemisphere stations during quiet days, the model-derived TEC underestimates GPS-TEC during solar active days. IRI-PLAS-TEC and GPS-TEC values exhibit similar trend for the equinoxes 21 March and 23 September which refer equivalent conditions.     

Accuracy and consistency of different global ionospheric maps released by IGS ionosphere associate analysis centers

Due to the differences of ionospheric modeling methods and selected tracking stations, the accuracy and consistency of Global Ionospheric Maps (GIMs) released by Ionosphere Associate Analysis Centers (IAACs) are different. In this study, we evaluate and analyze in detail the accuracy and consistency of GIMs final products provided by six IAACs from three different aspects. Firstly, the comparison of these GIMs shows that the mean bias (MEAN) is related to the modeling methods of various IAACs. The variation trend of the standard deviation (STD) is consistent with the solar activities, and accompanied by certain seasonal and annual periodic variations. The MEAN between IGS and each center is about −1.3 to 1.0 TECU, and the STD is about 1.4–2.5 TECU. Secondly, the validation with GPS TEC shows that the STD of CODE is the smallest at various latitudes, and the STD is about 0.7–4.5 TECU. Thirdly, The validation with the Jason2 VTEC shows that the STD between Jason2 and IAACs is about 4.4–5.2 TECU. In addition, the STD between Jason2 and six GIMs in the areas with more tracking stations is better than that of the regions with fewer tracking stations in different latitude regions. Regardless of whether the tracking stations are more or less, the MEAN and STD in high solar activity are larger than in low solar activity.     

The effect of total solar eclipse of October 3, 2005, on the total electron content over Europe

GPS observations from EUREF permanent GPS network were used to observe the response of TEC (Total Electron Content) to the total solar eclipse on October 3, 2005, under quiet geomagnetic conditions of the daytime ionosphere. The effect of the eclipse was detected in diurnal variations and more distinctly in the variations of TEC along individual satellite passes. The trough-like variations with a gradual decrease and followed by an increase of TEC at the time of the eclipse were observed over a large region. The depression of TEC amounted to 3–4 TECU. The maximum depression was observed over all stations located at the maximum path of the solar eclipse. The delay of a minimum level of TEC with respect to the maximum phase of the eclipse was about 20–30 min.     

Examining the use of the NeQuick bottomside and topside parameterizations at high latitudes

An examination of the high latitude performance of the bottomside and topside F-layer parameterizations of the NeQuick electron density model is presented using measurements from high latitude ionosonde and Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) facilities.For the bottomside, we present a comparison between modeled and measured B2Bot thickness parameter. In this comparison, it is seen that the use of the NeQuick parameterization at high latitudes results in significantly underestimated bottomside thicknesses, regularly exceeding 50%. We show that these errors can be attributed to two main issues in the NeQuick parameterization:(1) through the relationship relating foF2 and M3000F2 to the maximum derivative of F2 electron density, which is used to derive the bottomside thickness, and (2) through a fundamental inability of a constant thickness parameter, semi-Epstein shape function to fit the curvature of the high latitude F-region electron density profile.For the topside, a comparison is undertaken between the NeQuick topside thickness parameterization, using measured and CCIR-modeled ionospheric parameters, and that derived from fitting the NeQuick topside function to Incoherent Scatter Radar-measured topside electron density profiles. Through this comparison, we show that using CCIR-derived foF2 and M3000F2, used in both the NeQuick and IRI, results in significantly underestimated topside thickness during summer periods, overestimated thickness during winter periods, and an overall tendency to underestimate diurnal, seasonal, and solar cycle variability. These issues see no improvement through the use of measured foF2 and M(3000)F2 values. Such measured parameters result in a tendency for the parametrization to produce a declining trend in topside thickness with increasing solar activity, to produce damped seasonal variations, and to produce significantly overestimated topside thickness during winter periods.