Comparison of the topside ionosphere scale height determined by topside sounders model and bottomside digisonde profiles

Abstract

Topside ionospheric electron density extrapolation techniques rely on the applied profiler model with different techniques resulting in different profile shape. In all these techniques, the parameter that largely determines the shape of the profile is the scale height. Recently, an empirical model of the topside ionosphere scale height was developed, based on the vertical electron density profiles from the topside sounders onboard Alouette and ISIS satellites. The aim of this paper is to compare the scale height determined by the topside sounders model and bottomside digisonde profiles extrapolated above the maximum of the F layer. Theoretical scale height values, calculated by using the IRI plasma temperature model are also included in the comparison.