NSSDC/WDC-A-R&S 90-22
International Reference
Ionosphere
1990
Dieter Bilitza
Science Applications Research
Lanham, Maryland 20706, U.S.A.
November 1990
National Space Science Data Center/
World Data Center A for Rockets and Satellites
i
Chapter I. Introduction ........................ 1
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Chapter 2. History and New Developments ................................................................ 3
2.1 History of the International Reference Ionosphere ................................... 5
(K. Rawer, L. Bossy)
2.2 Electron Content Measurements and IRI ................................................... 11
(R. Leitinger)
2.3 Morphology of Electron Temperature Anisotropy in the F-Region.. 23
(K.-I. Oyama)
2.4 Model Descriptions for the Ion Transition Heights ................................ 33
(D. Bilitza, I. Kutiev)
2.5 Models for Horizontal E- and F-Region Drifts ........................................... 41
(E. Kazimirovsky, E. Zhovty, M. Chernigovskaya)
Chapter 3. IRI-90: Formulas and Explanations ..................................................... 43
3. I Introduction ............................................................................................................ 45
3.1.1 Data Sources ............................................................................................. 45
3.1.2 Functions ................................................................................................... 45
3.1.2.1 Booker Profile FUnction ..................................................... 46
3.1•2.2 Rawer Lay(er) Functioru ..................................................... 48
3.1.2.3 Day-Night Transition Function ....................................... 48
3.2 Electron Density .................................................................................................... 51
3.2.1 Topside (hmF2 to 1000 km) ............................................................. 52
3.2.1.1 F2-Peak Density (NmF2..foF2) ........................................ 52
3.2.1.2 F2-Peak Height (hmF2. M(3000)F2) ........................... 52
3.2.1.3 Topside Profile Shape ........................................................ 53
3.2•2 Bottoms,de (hmF1 to hmF2) ............................................................. 56
3.2.3 F1-Layer (hmF1 to HZ) ........................................................................ 57
3.2.4 Intermediate Region (/-IZto hv_ ........................... .......................... 59
3.2.5 E-Peak and Valley (hvr to hm_ ....................................................... 59
3.2.6 D-Region and E-Bottoms,de (hmE to HA) ................................... 61
3.2.7 LAY Functions for Middle Ionosphere (hmE to hmF2) ........... 62
3.2.8 P]asnmspheric Extension .................................................................... 64
3•2•9 Ionospheric Electron Content .......................................................... 64
3.3 Plasma Temperatures .......................................................................................... 65
3.3.1 Electron Temperature ......................................................................... 65
3.3•2 Ion Temperature .................................................................................... 68
3.4 Ion Composition .................................................................................................... 71
3.5 Ion Drift .................................................................................................................... 77
Chapter 4. IRI-90: Graphs .............................................................................................. 89
Chapter 5. Tables of Contents of IRI Reports ...................................................... 117
Chapter 6. References ................................................................................................... 147
111
PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT F'II,MET)
Chapter 1
This document describes the International Reference Ionosphere 1990
(IRI-90). It is intended as a guide and handbook for the experienced as well
as the new IRI user. IRI models are established by a Joint working group of
the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) and the International Union of
Radio Science (URSI). The composition of the COSPAR/URSI Working
Group on IRI is listed on the inside front cover.
Close tles exist to the URSI Working Group G.3 on Ionospheric Modeling (C.
M. Rush, U.S.A., Chairman) and G.4 on Ionospheric Informatics (B. W.
Reinisch, U.S.A., Chairman) and to the SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on
Solar-Terrestrial Physics) Working Group on an Aeronomical Reference
Ionosphere (R. W. Schunk, U.S.A., Chairman).
IRI describes monthly averages of the electron density, electron
temperature, ion temperature, and ion composition in the altitude range
from 50 km to 1000 km for magnetically quiet conditions in the non-auroral
ionosphere.
Almost a decade has passed since the last comprehensive IRI handbook was
published: IRI-79 was described in Report UAG-82 of the World Data Center
A for Solar-Terrestrial Physics (Rawer et al., 1981). Meanwhile, the IRI
model has been significantly improved with ground and space data collected
in the seventies. Work and studies that led to several IRI updates were
presented and discussed at the annual IRI workshops and are published in a
series of issues of Advances in Space Research: Volume 2, No. 10, 1982;
Volume 4, No. 1, 1984; Volume 5, No. 7 and No. 10, 1985; Volume 7, No. 6,
1987; Volume 8, No. 4, 1988; Volume I0, No. 8 and No. 11, 1990. The list
of contents of these reports is reproduced in Chapter 5.
The IRI-90 handbook summarizes the most important improvements and
new developments. It includes a text part, a portion that explains the IRI
formulas and expressions, and finally a collection of figures generated with
IRI-90.