Mapping Ionospheric Variability with COSMIC data

Abstract:

It is well known that the ionosphere varies with a number of inputs, including longitude, latitude, local time, and the solar cycle. In this study we consider the behavior of the ionosphere during the recent solar minimum in 2008, especially in comparison to periods of higher solar activity (e.g., 2011). Also of interest to our study is the ability of empirical models, such as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), to capture this variability in the ionosphere. To accomplish our goal we analyzed radio occultation data from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) satellite. We considered median electron density values for 81 days surrounding the 2008 and 2011 December solstices. Using the COSMIC dataset, we created global maps of the mid- and low-latitude F-region of the ionosphere, specifically focusing on maximum electron densities (NmF2) and the corresponding altitudes (hmF2). We constructed these maps in Python using the Python Science Analysis Toolkit (pysat). We compare our results with the IRI model and consider ways to improve upon the performance of the model during periods of solar extremes.