The global morphology of the plasmaspheric electron content during Northern winter 2009 based on GPS/COSMIC observation and GSM TIP model results

<p>We studied the contribution of the global plasmaspheric and ionospheric electron content (<em>PEC</em> and <em>IEC</em>) into total electron content (<em>TEC</em>). The experimental <em>PEC</em> was estimated by comparison of GPS <em>TEC</em>observations and FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC radio occultation <em>IEC</em> measurements. Results are retrieved for the winter solstice (January and December 2009) conditions. Global maps of COSMIC-derived <em>IEC</em>, <em>PEC</em>and GPS <em>TEC</em> were compared with Global Self-consistent Model of the Thermosphere, Ionosphere and Protonosphere (GSM TIP) results. In addition, we used GSM TIP model results in order to estimate the contribution of plasmaspheric electron content into <em>TEC</em> value at the different altitudinal regions. The advantages and problems of the outer ionospheric/plasmaspheric parameters (O⁺/H⁺ transition height,<em>TEC</em> and electron density at height above <em>F</em>2 layer peak) representation by the IRI (International Reference Ionosphere) model are discussed.</p>