Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis and modeling of ionospheric TEC over South Korean region

This paper presents the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) variations over the low-middle latitude South Korean region using dual frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations from 14 permanent stations with the data spanning approximately eight years (January 2010 to December 2017). Although, significant work has been conducted in the Korean territory on high-precision positioning, surveying, natural disaster mitigation, and reference frame and datum definition; however, there is substantial scope for modeling of the low-middle latitude ionosphere over the region, which would provide further navigational and communicational benefits. Therefore, in this study, we investigated spatial and temporal TEC variations in GNSS observables through Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) modeling and substantiate our findings against existing empirical International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2016) and NeQuick-2 models. In addition, observation and modeling studies conducted during a geomagnetic storm period (3-9 September, 2017), when the vertical TEC (VTEC) value was almost double that of its regular level, confirm the superior performance of the EOF model in the percentage deviation and correlation plots. To ascertain the performance of the EOF model, the geomagnetic coordinates and PCN index were considered in this study along with other solar and geomagnetic indices (F10.7, Ap and Dst). Analysis of results emphasizes the superior performance of the EOF model compared to other regional and global models with respect to its accuracy and quality relating to quick convergence of decomposition modes and discrimination of temporal as well as spatial components.