Assimilation of autoscaled data and regional and local ionospheric models as input source for a real-time 3-D IRI modeling: additional and planned tests

The joint utilization of autoscaled data such as the F2 peak critical frequency foF2, the propagation factor M(3000)F2 and the electron density profile, coming from two reference ionospheric stations (Rome and Gibilmanna), the regional (SIRMUP) and global (IRI) ionospheric models, can provide a valid tool for obtaining a real-time three-dimensional (3-D) electron density mapping of the ionosphere. Preliminary results of the proposed 3-D model are shown by comparing the vertical electron density profiles given by the model with the ones measured at three testing ionospheric stations (Athens, Roquetes and S.Vito). Mostly at the solar terminator the vertical electron density profile extracted from the proposed 3-D model is more representative of the real conditions of the ionosphere than the electron density profile extracted from the IRI-URSI model. Additional tests are planned for geomagnetically disturbed periods, considering more than two reference ionospheric stations, and by using a new oblique-incidence ionospheric sounding campaign between Rome (41.8° N, 12.5°E) and Chania, Greece (35.7°N, 24.0°E), in order to compare the results from radio path measurements with those obtained by the ray tracing technique applied to the real-time 3D pictures of the ionosphere specified by the new developed tool