SPL-EPIC: A Physics-Based Model for Equatorial Ionospheric Dynamics and Anomaly Simulation

A new physics-based Ionospheric model has been developed for the equatorial and low latitude Ionosphere. The model is named as Space Physics Laboratory - Equatorial and low latitude Physics-based ionospheriC model (SPL-EPIC). The model effectively captures the features of the equatorial fountain and the evolution of Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA) over the Indian longitude sector 77 E during periods of low (2010) and high (2015) solar activity. Simulated electron density distributions compare favorably with IRI-2020, the first-principles TIEGCM, and digital ionosonde observations. Simulation results have been provided by the Community Coordinated Modeling Center (CCMC) at Goddard Space Flight Center through their publicly available simulation services (https://ccmc.gsfc.nasa.gov). The electron density profiles measured by the Digital Ionosonde is given in the link.