Highlights: IRI 2016, IRI Plas 2017 and SAMI2 overestimate the TEC during low solar activities. The highest overestimation is observed for IRI Plas. The assimilation of TEC into the IRI Plas model improves the model performance. For low solar activity, the drift model in SAMI2 needs to be replaced or updated.

    Abstract We have examined the performance of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI 2016), International Reference Ionosphere extended to Plasmasphere (IRI-Plas 2017), and Sami2 is Another Model of the Ionosphere (SAMI2) models for long and deep solar minimum quiet time period around 100°E by comparing the models with the total electron content (TEC) obtained from a chain of Global Navigation Satellite Systems receivers. Results of the study reveal that; all the models overestimate the observed TEC for all stations and seasons, with the highest overestimation shown by IRI Plas. The IRI 2016 model performed better for all stations and seasons than IRI Plas. IRI Plas 2017 model is also simulated by assimilating the TEC derived from GPS (GPS-TEC) and Global Ionospheric Map (GIM-TEC) into the model code. The “no input” option of the model is used as a reference to study the effect of data assimilation on the model's efficacy. It is observed that the assimilation of GPS TEC and GIM-TEC into the model code reproduces TEC quite well for all the quiet days considered during both solar minima. IRI-Plas and IRI 2016 simulation is also compared with SAMI2 simulations for the same space–time configuration. SAMI2 also overestimates the quiet time GNSS TEC during daytime peak hours in all northern and southern hemisphere. Changes are made to the SAMI2 model inputs based on previously reported changes during deep solar minimum. By changing the ionizing EUV, neutral thermospheric composition, and neutral temperature, a good agreement between the simulated and measured data is obtained. However, due to strong tidal effects during low solar activity, additional modifications may be needed to the neutral density, temperature, and EUV. The drift model used in SAMI2 should also be replaced or modified for the low solar activity periods.


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    Title :

    Performance evaluation of IRI, IRI Plas and SAMI2 during the consecutive prolonged solar minimum of cycles 23 and 24 around 100°E


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Advances in Space Research ; 72 , 5 ; 1665-1687


    Publication date :

    2023-04-26


    Size :

    23 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English






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