Evaluation and analysis of different global ionospheric maps over China

We systematically evaluated and analyzed the performance of predicted, rapid and final global ionospheric map (GIM) products, provided by 5 IGS ionospheric analysis centers and the international GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS) comprehensive center, over China. The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) values measured by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and Jason altimeter satellites are selected as references and performances of GIM in standard single-point positioning are also used as indices in the validation. The results showed that the order of performance from high to low of different types of GIM over China is the final GIM, the rapid GIM and the predicted GIM products. Different GIM products are found to have comparable performances over China during low solar activity. The rapid and final GIM products provided by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and iGMAS outperform other GIM products during high solar activity.