Features of topside ionospheric background over China and its adjacent areas obtained by the ZH-1 satellite

\textlessp\textgreaterTopside ionospheric background distribution and its seasonal variations over China and its adjacent areas, e.g. 0°-54°N and 70°-140°E, are studied using the in situ electron density (Ne) measurements obtained by the LAP payload on board the ZH-1 (CSES) satellite. Results are as followings:(1) Regularities consistent with results from previous studies are shown on the latitudinal extension, longitudinal distribution, and seasonal variations of the EIA (Equatorial Ionization Anomaly) phenomenon in the study area. (2) In the mid-latitude regions, there is a relative low-value zone for the daytime Ne, which shows relative high-value data during nighttime. Nighttime Ne enhancement is shown in all the mid-latitudes for all the seasons when comparing the nighttime and daytime Ne together. The equatorward extension of this phenomenon is in contrast to the poleward extension of the EIA phenomenon; when this phenomenon extends, the EIA shrinks, and vice versa. (3) For the daytime Ne, semiannual anomaly demonstrates a regular pattern, in which the two peaks start in spring and autumn equinoxes at the Equator, then evolve toward the summer solstice with increasing latitude, and finally combine into one summer time peak in mid-latitudes; seasonal anomaly only appears within latitude 4° of the Equator. While for the nighttime Ne, semiannual anomaly appears between latitude 22° and 50°, and seasonal anomaly appears below latitude 22°. (4) The monthly average background of the ionosphere generally shows that the nighttime Ne varies more dramatically than the daytime Ne. For the daytime Ne, observations in both equinoxes and summer solstice vary more violently than that in winter solstice, and observations in EIA regions vary more violently than that in mid-latitude regions. And for the nighttime Ne, observation variations are roughly similar in all seasons and latitudes. (5) Features of the ionospheric background, which fluctuates with time and space in the study area, are relatively complicated, therefore it is necessary to pay attention to the ionosphere background and its fluctuations when conducting studies on ionosphere related scientific problems. Based on the above results and comparisons with other simultaneous observations, we believe that the relative variations of the in situ Ne measurements from the ZH-1 satellite are in consistent with that from other datasets. Besides the well-known ionosphere features, some features which were not found in previous studies are found from the ionosphere background in the study area. The in situ Ne measurements from the ZH-1 satellite are a good data source for systematic studies on ionosphere-related scientific problems due to the similar local times and locations of the observations.\textless/p\textgreater