Primerjava količine TEC (vsebnost elektronov v stolpcu zraka) nad Evropo v letih sončnega minimuma in maksimuma (2020 in 2024)

Comparison of Total Electron Content Sources Over Europe During Solar Minimum and Maximum Years (2020 and 2024)

Author(s):

Stefan Krstić, Miljana Todorović-Drakul, Sanja Grekulović, Dušan Petković, Oleg Odalović

Abstract:

In this paper, we presented a comparison of Total Electron Content (TEC) obtained from various sources: ionosondes, the IRI model, the NeQuick model, and Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). The study was conducted at multiple locations distributed evenly throughout Europe. We analyzed TEC values from the aforementioned sources during six days per year for 2020 and 2024. In our research, we found that ionosondes generally produce the smallest values of TEC. GNSS data provide TEC with the highest values during quiet periods, while the NeQuick model generates the highest values when solar and geomagnetic activity increases. Based on the correlation coefficient, diurnal variations in TECs from different sources showed significant similarities. Focusing on RMS (root mean square) values of TEC differences, we discovered that several TEC sources produce TECs with a satisfactory level of consistency across Europe. Consistency is around several TECU at solar minimum and within 10 TECU during solar maximum. TECs from the IRI and NeQuick models are highly consistent at both solar periods. During the solar minimum period, there are slightly larger discrepancies between TEC from ionosondes and those from the NeQuick model and GNSS, while other differences stay small. During the solar maximum period, ionosondes and the NeQuick model show the largest differences and variations.

Keywords:

Total Electron Content (TEC), GNSS, IRI, NeQuick, ionosonde

DOI: 10.15292/geodetski-vestnik.2025.04.574-593

Citation:

Stefan Krstić, Miljana Todorović-Drakul, Sanja Grekulović, Dušan Petković, Oleg Odalović (2025). Primerjava količine TEC (vsebnost elektronov v stolpcu zraka) nad Evropo v letih sončnega minimuma in maksimuma (2020 in 2024). | Comparison of Total Electron Content Sources Over Europe During Solar Minimum and Maximum Years (2020 and 2024). Geodetski vestnik, 69 (4), 574-593. DOI: 10.15292/geodetski-vestnik.2025.04.574-593