Evaluation of foF2 and hmF2 Parameters of IRI-2016 Model in Different Latitudes over China under High and Low Solar Activity Years

The height of the peak electron density (hmF2) and the critical frequency of the F2 layer (foF2) are very important in the research of ionospheric electrodynamics and high frequency (HF) wireless communication. In the article, we validated the hmF2/foF2 model values of the latest version of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2016) with observations from three ionosonde stations which belong to low, middle, and high latitudes (i.e., Sanya, Beijing and Mohe) over China during a high solar activity year (2014, F10.7 = 145.9 sfu) and a low solar activity year (2016, F10.7 = 88.7 sfu). Among them, foF2 model values can be obtained through the International Radio Consulting Committee (CCIR) model or the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) model, both of which have the “F-peak storm model” on or ‘off’ options; hmF2 model values can be obtained through Bilitza-Sheikh-Eyfrig (BSE-1979), Altadill-Magdaleno-Torta-Blanch (AMTB-2013), or SHUbin (SHU-2015) model. The IRI-2016 hmF2/foF2 model values were evaluated by root mean square (RMS) values and mean absolute relative error (MARE). The results show that for the foF2 parameter, the performance of IRI-2016 can be improved by choosing “F-peak storm model” on option in geomagnetic-disturbed days. Whether in high or low solar activity years, for foF2, the IRI-2016 options of CCIR have better prediction ability than IRI-2016 options of URSI in low and high latitudes over China, and the IRI-2016 options of URSI have better prediction ability than IRI-2016 options of URSI in middle latitudes. For hmF2, the IRI-2016 option of SHU-2015 has better prediction ability than the IRI-2016 options of AMTB-2013 and BSE-1949 in high latitudes over China, the IRI-2016 options of SHU-2015 and BSE-1979 have better prediction ability than IRI-2016 options of AMTB-2013 in mid and low latitudes over China.