Comparison of ionospheric data from Soviet and Chinese stations with the IRI-86 and the faim models

Median values of ionospheric data from Moscow(55.5° N, 37.3° E), Tashkent (41.3° N, 69.6° E), Beijing (40.0° N, 116.3° E) and Guangzhou (23.1° N, 113.3° E) for different years at LT: 00.00, 06.00, 12.00 and 18.00 were used to produce vertical profiles of electron density with the analytic procedure introduced by Giovanni and Radicella. These profiles were compared with the IRI-86 model profiles adjusted to the F2 experimental peak values and with those obtained with the Fully Analytic Ionospheric Model (FAIM). The main differences with the IRI model are related to the shape of the topside profile under certain conditions and to the presence of the F1 layer in the median values used. The differences with the FAIM model appears to be more marked. The results are discussed.