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Electron density profiles in the equatorial ionosphere observed by the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and a digisonde at Jicamarca

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Abstract

We examine for the first time the ionospheric electron density profiles concurrently observed by the GPS occultation experiment (GOX) onboard the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC (F3/C) and the ground-based digisonde portable sounder DPS-4 at Jicamarca (12°S, 283°W, 1°N geomagnetic) in 2007. Our results show that the F3/C generally underestimates the F2-peak electron density NmF2 and the F2-peak height hmF2. On the other hand, when the equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA) pronouncedly appears during daytime, the total electron content (TEC) derived from the radio occultation of the GPS signal recorded by the F3/C GOX is significantly enhanced. This results in the NmF2 at Jicamarca being overestimated by the Abel inversion on the enhanced TEC during the afternoon period.

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Acknowledgments

This research work has been supported by the projects of National Space Organization to the National Central University, 98-NSPO(B)-IC-FA07-01(L) and to Ching-Yun University, 98-NSPO(B)-IC-FA07-01(R). BWR was supported by Air Force contract FA8718-06-C-0072.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Space Science, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan

    Jann-Yenq Liu, Jhih-Yung Yang & Chao-Yen Chen

  2. Center for Space and Remote Sensing Research, National Central University, Jhongli, Taiwan

    Jann-Yenq Liu

  3. General Education Center, Ching-Yun University, No. 229, Chienshin Road, Jhongli, Taoyuan, 320, Taiwan

    Chien-Chih Lee

  4. Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA

    Bodo W. Reinisch

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  1. Jann-Yenq Liu
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  2. Chien-Chih Lee
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  3. Jhih-Yung Yang
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  4. Chao-Yen Chen
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  5. Bodo W. Reinisch
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Correspondence to Jann-Yenq Liu.

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Liu, JY., Lee, CC., Yang, JY. et al. Electron density profiles in the equatorial ionosphere observed by the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC and a digisonde at Jicamarca. GPS Solut 14, 75–81 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-009-0150-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10291-009-0150-3

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