Ionospheric electron density modelling using B-splines and constraint optimization

• Published in: Earth, planets, and space Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 1 - 23
• Main Authors: Lalgudi Gopalakrishnan, Ganesh, Schmidt, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; SpringerOpen
• Subjects: 2. Aeronomy; Agriculture; Atmosphere; B-spline expansions; Constraint modelling; DynamicEarth: Earth’s Interior; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Electron density; Electrons; Environmental aspects; Geology; Geophysics/Geodesy; Inequality; Inequality constraints; Ionosondes; Ionosphere; Ionosphere layers; Ionospheric electron density; Ionospheric electrons; Ionospheric models; Measurement; Modelling; Multi-layer Chapman model; Multilayers; Near Space Interactions; Ocean; Optimization; Optimization approach; Parameters; Plasmasphere; Precision agriculture; Solar radiation; Surface; Germany; Multi-layer Chapman model; Ionosphere layers; B-spline expansions; Inequality constraints; Optimization approach
• ISSN: 1880-5981; 1343-8832; 1880-5981
• DOI: 10.1186/s40623-022-01693-4

 Many modern applications, such as precise point positioning, autonomous driving or precision agriculture would benefit significantly if a high-precision and high-resolution model of electron density in the ionosphere and the plasmasphere would be globally available. Since the development of such a model still relies on data with insufficient and uneven global coverage, the consideration of background information and the introduction of equality and inequality constraints on Chapman key parameters are essential. In this work, we develop a multi-layer Chapman model based on B-spline expansions of selected key parameters of the electron density. The unknown series coefficients of the key parameters are subject to equality and inequality constraints. Finally, the developed model is applied to a combination of real and semi-simulated input data; the results are validated through ionosonde measurements. Graphical Abstract