An Empirical Ionospheric Model for Total Electron Content over North America using Empirical Orthogonal Function
Abstract
An empirical ionospheric total electron content (TEC) model over North America (20°N--60°N, 40°W--140°W) is constructed using the GPS TEC data collected by MIT Haystack Observatory during the years 2001-2012. This is based on the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis method that is applied to the measured monthly means during the magnetic quiet-time. The importance of different types of temporal variations to the overall TEC variability as well as the influence of the solar cycle on TEC can be well represented by the characteristics of EOF base functions and associated coefficients (principlal components). The quick convergence of EOF decomposition makes it possible to use the first four orders of the EOF series to represent 98.9% of the overall variance in the original data set. An analysis of accuracy and quality of the model indicates that the model can reflect the majority of the quiet-time monthly means, and represent characteristic temporal-spatial variations in the North America TEC. Starting with this quiet-time model, a new ionospheric disturbance model is being developed using the same observational dataset but for kp>3. The goal is to provide statistical representation of the ionospheric variations under different seasons and onset times for a variety of magnetic activity levels. Some initial results for the disturbance model will be presented as well.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2013
- Bibcode:
- 2013AGUFMSA13B1959C
- Keywords:
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- 2443 IONOSPHERE Midlatitude ionosphere;
- 2447 IONOSPHERE Modeling and forecasting