Statistical analysis of ionospheric mid-latitude trough over the Northern Hemisphere derived from GPS total electron content data

This study statistically investigated the seasonal variation, magnetic local time (MLT) variation, geomagnetic activity dependence, and solar activity dependence of the mid-latitude trough using GPS total electron content (TEC) data from 2000 to 2014. The daily median Kp index was used to characterize the daily geomagnetic activity level. The results showed that the trough minimum position depended primarily on the geomagnetic activity, MLT, and the season. The trough depth depended primarily on the solar flux index (F107) and, to a lesser degree, on MLT. The trough depth increased as F107 increased and as the incidence angle of solar flux decreased. The trough equatorward half-width decreased as the geomagnetic activity increased. These variations in the GPS-TEC trough minimum position were compared with the variations in the TEC trough derived from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI)-2007 model. The GPS-TEC trough minimum position changed little with respect to F107, whereas the IRI-TEC trough minimum position showed a strong F107 dependence.