Assessment of bottomside thickness parameters over magnetic equator and low latitudes during high solar activity of solar cycle 24

Bottomside thickness parameters of eight Digisonde stations over geomagnetic equator and low latitude regions have been investigated and compared with IRI model bottomside parameter during high solar activity (years 2013–2015) of the solar cycle 24. The studied years of each station rely on the GIRO data availability. The proposed B0 (B0_Pro) are computed by using the GIRO ionospheric data and the B0 expression in [16] with an average correction factor of “0.18733”. This average correction factor is derived from an average of 144 values of monthly average correction factors at eleven stations over geomagnetic equator and low latitude regions. The Results show that the seasonal variations of B0_Pro are in good agreements with those of B0_obs evidently as compared to B0_IRI at eight stations for all four seasons. For example, in the southern hemisphere, the absolute percentage distances between B0_Pro and B0_obs range from 13% to 33% with overall averages less than 26% and regional averages of 16.5%, but those between B0_IRI and B0_obs are higher. Moreover, the correlation coefficients between B0_Pro and B0_obs always are larger than 0.87 while excluding a lowest value of “0.7041”, but those between B0_IRI and B0_obs are lower. In the southern hemisphere, two remarkable features can always be reflected by B0_Pro for all studied stations. Meanwhile, in the northern hemisphere, the B0_Pro variations of each dip latitude has unique features at different locations, local times, and seasons. The inter-station differences of B0_Pro can be seen obviously in comparison with B0_IRI and described by the impacts of EEJ strength, vertical plasma drift, and PRE from local noontime to post-sunset periods. The remarkable findings from this present study may enhance the comprehension of bottomside variability and improve the IRI predictability in the future.