Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles

Understanding the physical processes within the ionosphere is a key requirement to improve and extend ionospheric modeling approaches. The determination of meaningful parameters to describe the vertical electron density distribution and how they are influenced by the solar activity is an importan...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M. Limberger, W. Liang, M. Schmidt, D. Dettmering, U. Hugentobler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2013-12-01
Series:Annales Geophysicae
Online Access:https://www.ann-geophys.net/31/2215/2013/angeo-31-2215-2013.pdf
id doaj-a0152f43d5934e899985fe20f5e88b2f
record_format Article
spelling doaj-a0152f43d5934e899985fe20f5e88b2f2020-11-24T21:30:31ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762013-12-01312215222710.5194/angeo-31-2215-2013Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profilesM. Limberger0W. Liang1M. Schmidt2D. Dettmering3U. Hugentobler4Technische Universität München &ndash; Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy (IAPG), Arcisstr. 21, 80333 München, GermanyDeutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI), Alfons-Goppel-Str. 11, 80539 München, GermanyDeutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI), Alfons-Goppel-Str. 11, 80539 München, GermanyDeutsches Geodätisches Forschungsinstitut (DGFI), Alfons-Goppel-Str. 11, 80539 München, GermanyTechnische Universität München &ndash; Institute of Astronomical and Physical Geodesy (IAPG), Arcisstr. 21, 80333 München, GermanyUnderstanding the physical processes within the ionosphere is a key requirement to improve and extend ionospheric modeling approaches. The determination of meaningful parameters to describe the vertical electron density distribution and how they are influenced by the solar activity is an important topic in ionospheric research. In this regard, the F2 layer of the ionosphere plays a key role as it contains the highest concentration of electrons and ions. In this contribution, the maximum electron density <i>Nm</i>F2, peak height <i>hm</i>F2 and scale height <i>H</i>F2 of the F2 layer are determined by employing a model approach for regional applications realized by the combination of endpoint-interpolating polynomial B splines with an adapted physics-motivated Chapman layer. For this purpose, electron density profiles derived from ionospheric GPS radio occultation measurements of the satellite missions FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, GRACE and CHAMP have been successfully exploited. Profiles contain electron density observations at discrete spots, in contrast to the commonly used integrated total electron content from GNSS, and therefore are highly sensitive to obtaining the required information of the vertical electron density structure. The spatio-temporal availability of profiles is indeed rather sparse, but the model approach meets all requirements to combine observation techniques implicating the mutual support of the measurements concerning accuracy, sensitivity and data resolution. For the model initialization and to bridge observation gaps, the International Reference Ionosphere 2007 is applied. Validations by means of simulations and selected real data scenarios show that this model approach has significant potential and the ability to yield reliable results.https://www.ann-geophys.net/31/2215/2013/angeo-31-2215-2013.pdf
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author M. Limberger
W. Liang
M. Schmidt
D. Dettmering
U. Hugentobler
spellingShingle M. Limberger
W. Liang
M. Schmidt
D. Dettmering
U. Hugentobler
Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
Annales Geophysicae
author_facet M. Limberger
W. Liang
M. Schmidt
D. Dettmering
U. Hugentobler
author_sort M. Limberger
title Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
title_short Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
title_full Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
title_fullStr Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
title_full_unstemmed Regional representation of F2 Chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
title_sort regional representation of f2 chapman parameters based on electron density profiles
publisher Copernicus Publications
series Annales Geophysicae
issn 0992-7689
1432-0576
publishDate 2013-12-01
description Understanding the physical processes within the ionosphere is a key requirement to improve and extend ionospheric modeling approaches. The determination of meaningful parameters to describe the vertical electron density distribution and how they are influenced by the solar activity is an important topic in ionospheric research. In this regard, the F2 layer of the ionosphere plays a key role as it contains the highest concentration of electrons and ions. In this contribution, the maximum electron density <i>Nm</i>F2, peak height <i>hm</i>F2 and scale height <i>H</i>F2 of the F2 layer are determined by employing a model approach for regional applications realized by the combination of endpoint-interpolating polynomial B splines with an adapted physics-motivated Chapman layer. For this purpose, electron density profiles derived from ionospheric GPS radio occultation measurements of the satellite missions FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC, GRACE and CHAMP have been successfully exploited. Profiles contain electron density observations at discrete spots, in contrast to the commonly used integrated total electron content from GNSS, and therefore are highly sensitive to obtaining the required information of the vertical electron density structure. The spatio-temporal availability of profiles is indeed rather sparse, but the model approach meets all requirements to combine observation techniques implicating the mutual support of the measurements concerning accuracy, sensitivity and data resolution. For the model initialization and to bridge observation gaps, the International Reference Ionosphere 2007 is applied. Validations by means of simulations and selected real data scenarios show that this model approach has significant potential and the ability to yield reliable results.
url https://www.ann-geophys.net/31/2215/2013/angeo-31-2215-2013.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT mlimberger regionalrepresentationoff2chapmanparametersbasedonelectrondensityprofiles
AT wliang regionalrepresentationoff2chapmanparametersbasedonelectrondensityprofiles
AT mschmidt regionalrepresentationoff2chapmanparametersbasedonelectrondensityprofiles
AT ddettmering regionalrepresentationoff2chapmanparametersbasedonelectrondensityprofiles
AT uhugentobler regionalrepresentationoff2chapmanparametersbasedonelectrondensityprofiles
_version_ 1725963078148816896