Analysis of GPS-TEC and IRI model over equatorial and EIA stations during solar cycle 24

Abstract

Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements provided by Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as the International Reference Ionosphere – 2016 model (IRI01-Corr, IRI-2001, and NeQuick) model were compared at two Indian GPS stations: equatorial station Bangalore (12.580N, 77.350 E) and equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) station Lucknow (26.500N, 80.550 E) during the solar cycle 24 extending from 2007 to 2017. The spectral, regression and statistical analysis displays a double-hump shape with counterclockwise hysteresis within TEC. The solar flux along with the TEC showed erratic as well as sluggish trends throughout the increasing period and flat and rapid throughout the decreasing period of the solar cycle 24. The semiannual and winter anomaly is discovered to be a constant feature throughout the solar cycle. The main idea of the current study is to investigate the performance of IRI01-Corr, IRI-2001, and NeQuick TEC in contrast to GPS TEC data throughout solar cycle 24 at the Indian equatorial and EIA stations. The modeled TEC data exhibit almost complete agreement with the measurement highlighting the same trends in the solar cycle as well as semiannual and seasonal changes. However, there are clear biases between the observed and modeled TECs when local time, seasons, as well as solar activity phases are considered. The main findings of this paper are that the NeQuick model generally underestimates noon-time TEC while the IRI-2001 model overestimates the same. The error in estimating noontime TEC from the IRI model using IRI-2001 as a topside at the EIA station is higher (142 %) than that at the equatorial station (42 %).