Optimizing the NeQuick Topside Scale Height Parameters Through COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 Radio Occultation Data

Abstract

In this study, the NeQuick topside scale height empirical parameters H0, g, and r are globally retrieved, for the first time, exploiting a selected dataset of about 1.8M COSMIC/FORMOSAT-3 radio occultation topside electron density profiles. Corresponding spatial, diurnal, seasonal, as well as solar and magnetic activity median trends are studied and discussed. The results of this study could be considered as a baseline for the implementation of an improved NeQuick topside formulation. Indeed, applications relying on single-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals would benefit from an ameliorated characterization of the topside ionosphere because empirical ionospheric models, like NeQuick, are used to mitigate the detrimental effect that the ionosphere–plasmasphere system has on GNSS signals.