Prediction performance comparison between TIEGCM and IRI over China ionosonde stations

The thermosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model (TIEGCM) is a three-dimensional, time-dependent models of the coupled thermosphere/ionosphere system, which is developed by the High Altitude Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR/HAO). By comparing the height of the peak electron density of the F₂-layer (h_mF₂) variation derived from TIEGCM with the output of IRI-2016 (international reference ionosphere)model and the h_mF₂ data collected from 12 digital ionosonde measurements in China, we analyze the forecast performance of TIEGCM in quiet geomagnetic activity of different seasons over China region. Results show that TIEGCM performed well in all ionosonde stations, and can be applied in certain ionospheric h_mF₂ parameter researches in China. The ability of TIEGCM to simulate ionospheric changes is about 25% higher than IRI. To some extent, it can simulate ionosphere semi-annual anomaly and equatorial anomaly. Either compared with IRI or data observed, there is a certain deviation in TIEGCM. The deviation in low latitude region fluctuates greatly, and the same during sunrise and sunset, which can provide a theoretical reference for our potential model correction.