International Reference Ionosphere 2000

TLDR

The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is the global standard for ionospheric densities and temperatures, developed and continually updated by a joint URSI–COSPAR working group. The authors announce a new IRI version scheduled for release in 2000. The update introduces improved electron density modeling from the F peak to the E peak, better F 1 layer statistics, realistic low‑latitude bottomside thickness, storm‑time and ion‑drift models, two new D‑region electron density options, and an enhanced topside temperature model, while outlining typical IRI applications. The paper reviews outcomes of the 1997 and 1998 IRI workshops and discusses ongoing task‑force efforts to refine topside electron and ion densities and incorporate a plasmaspheric extension.

Abstract

The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is the international standard for the specification of ionospheric densities and temperatures. It was developed and is being improved‐updated by a joint working group of the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) and the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR). A new version of IRI is scheduled for release in the year 2000. This paper describes the most important changes compared to the current version of IRI: (1) an improved representation of the electron density in the region from the F peak down to the E peak including a better description of the F 1 layer occurrence statistics and a more realistic description of the low‐latitude bottomside thickness, (2) inclusion of a model for storm‐time conditions, (3) inclusion of an ion drift model, (4) two new options for the electron density in the D region, and (5) an improved model for the topside electron temperatures. The outcome of the most recent IRI Workshops (Kühlungsborn, 1997, and Nagoya, 1998) will be reviewed, and the status of several ongoing task force activities (e.g., efforts to improve the representation of electron and ion densities in the topside ionosphere and the inclusion of a plasmaspheric extension) will be discussed. A few typical IRI applications will be highlighted in section 6.