Validation of IRI-2020 and NeQuick2 ionospheric models using ground-based ionosonde measurements in the Ethiopian sector

Abstract Research on ionospheric models are interesting because they have wide applications in predicting electron density profiles. The main objective of this article is to investigate the performance of the NeQuick2 and IRI-2020 empirical models. Using the electron density and its corresponding height values, we plotted and tabulated the ionosonde electron density profiles with those of the models using Matlab. From these graphs and tables, we have illustrated the performance of the ionospheric models and their correlation with that of the Ionosonde.Both models typically underestimate electron density compared to ionosonde measurements, particularly during certain periods and events, such as the geomagnetic storm. Despite these discrepancies, the NeQuick2 model shows better correlation with ionosonde data, having smaller RMSD values and thus slightly better predictive performance overall. Although the IRI-2020 model often underestimates electron density, it aligns well during specific days and times. Model performance variability is due to factors like the equatorial ionization anomaly and limited input data, especially in regions like Ethiopia. Improving local ionospheric data integration could enhance model accuracy for equatorial regions. While both models have limitations, the NeQuick2 model generally performs better.