Evaluation of analytical ionospheric models used in electron density profile reconstruction

Abstract

New formulae based on the Sech-squared, Exponential and Chapman layers are introduced for a TEC-based electron density reconstruction technique using ionosonde and upper ion transition level data. These analytical ionospheric models are implemented and tested as reconstruction tools with the help of satellite in-situ measurements of the ion and electron densities. Particular attention is drawn to the calculation quality of the scale height in the upper ionosphere, from hmF2 up to the O+-H+ transition height.