A quantitative analysis of latitudinal variation of ionospheric total electron content and comparison with IRI-2020 over China

Many studies have investigated the spatial variations of the ionosphere, but the quantitative characteristics of the ionosphere are rarely reported. In this paper, we utilize the total electron content (TEC) data to evaluate the latitudinal gradient of the ionosphere within 10 degrees-50 degrees N over the China sector. It is found that the magnitudes of latitudinal gradient are significantly higher within 10 degrees-40 degrees N and 45 degrees 50 degrees N, respectively. The database of TEC from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2022 is processed to figure out the local time, seasonal, and solar activity dependency of the latitudinal gradient. The results suggest that the gradient within 10 degrees-40 degrees N is higher in the daytime and during high solar activity period. They are more noticeable in the spring and autumn, and least visible in the summer. Conversely, the gradient within 45 degrees-50 degrees N strengthens in the nighttime and under lower solar activity, and has larger values in the summer months. Furthermore, the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2020) model is assessed in terms of the reproducibility of latitudinal gradient. The IRI-2020 basically represents the latitudinal gradient within 10 degrees-40 degrees N, whereas it overestimates the gradient in the low solar activity (c) 2023 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.