The quiet and disturbed time performance of the IRI 2012 within 90°-130°E longitude sector during solar cycle 24

The performance of the IRI 2012 model is examined for the double peaked solar cycle 24 in the low latitude region of 90-130oE longitude in the context of the global longitudinal wave number four structure (WN4). The monthly mean values of the foF2 and the hmF2(if available) measurements at low and low mid-latitude stations Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E), Hainan (19.2°N,109.7°E),Okinawa (26.5°N,128°E) and Cocos Island (12.2°S,96.8°E) during quiet times and Dibrugarh (27.5°N, 95°E), Chiang Mai (18.76°N,98.93°E), Chumphon (10.72°N,99.37°E), Kototabang (0.2°S,100.32°E) and Cocos Island (12.2°S,96.8°E ) during the disturbed days of a severe geomagnetic storm are investigated. These stations are located under the strongest peak of the longitudinal WN4 structure in NmF2 along 90-130°E longitudes. The IRI is quite successful in predicting the seasonal averages of NmF2 over this region except in the equinox afternoon period where IRI underestimates the NmF2 in low latitudes. When the monthly mean measured data is compared with IRI, the difference between the IRI model predictions and the measurements are found to follow a systematic pattern. The IRI-2012 with CCIR options slightly underestimates foF2 over Dibrugarh in day time and overestimates in the night time. The amount of underestimation varies from month to month and also depends on the solar activity levels. The IRI also underestimated the day time hmF2 and overestimated the night time hmF2 over Dibrugarh. In case of Hainan, the IRI overestimates the NmF2 in the equinox months and generally in the afternoon to post sunset period. The model values are closer in the solstice than in the equinox. In Okinawa, the trend reverses and the IRI overestimates the NmF2 in the day time and underestimates in the night time. The IRI overestimated the day time hmF2 and underestimated the night time hmF2 over Okinawa. In case of Cocos Island which lies almost on the EIA anomaly region of the southern hemisphere, IRI underestimates the peak day time NmF2 in most months. The measurements are closer to the model values in the forenoon period and in the low solar activity period. The striking feature across all the stations is the IRI underestimation of the post sunset enhancement of NmF2 in low latitudes. During the severe geomagnetic storm of 17-18 March, 2015, the IRI was not able to replicate the inhibition of EIA on the next day i.e. 18 March as observed in the 100°E longitude.