Database of electron density profiles from Arecibo Radar Observatory for the assessment of ionospheric models

Abstract

We describe the reduction of the Arecibo Observatory incoherent scatter radar electron density profiles from 1966 to 2006 into a standardized database of electron density profiles useful for the assessment of ionospheric models. The database of electron density profiles covers approximately 700 days of observation over nearly 4 solar cycles and all seasons. These data are averaged into climatological conditions with special attention at maintaining a normal profile shape in altitude. The reduced profile database and the climatological average profiles are provided to the Community Coordinated Modeling Center for open access by the community and their efforts to generate ionosphere model metrics and skill scores. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.