An empirical orthogonal function model of total electron content over China

In this paper a climatology model of total electron content (TEC) over China has been developed on the basis of the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis using Global Positioning System (GPS) data from the International Global Navigation Satellite System Service (IGS) and Crust Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) covering almost the whole Chinese sector during 1996-2004. The model well represents observational data with mean bias of -0.00994 TECU (1 TECU = 1.0 x 10(16) el.m(-2)) and standard deviation of 5.42 TECU. Then the EOF model and IRI have been used in three-dimensional variational (3DVAR) data assimilation experiments separately, and results reveal that the ability of assimilation nowcasting for the EOF model is better as it provides a more authentic background.