MODELING OF IONOSPHERIC ELECTRON-CONTENT OVER LUNPING - AN EMPIRICAL-APPROACH

An empirical model based on a harmonic analysis approach for calculating the ionospheric electron content (IEC) over Lunping (24.9-degrees-N, 121.2-degrees-E) for all levels of solar activity is proposed. The harmonic coefficients were obtained by normalizing the IEC data collected during the period 1976-83 to a common level of solar activity. The coefficients exhibit expected seasonal variations. A set of 49 coefficients comprising the mean, first, second and third harmonic was found to be sufficient to recreate monthly mean electron content under any desired solar flux level. The proposed model reqires only the precalculated set of coefficients as input, eliminates the necessity to integrate electron density profile and enables first order correction of the time delay and refraction errors over this low latitude station.