Ionospheric mapping function for total electron content (TEC) using global positioning system (GPS) data in Malaysia

The ionosphere layer is very important to the communication system. This research involves the determination of total electron content (TEC) in ionosphere based on height in order to determine the appropriate TEC value for Malaysia and for the equitorial region generally. The ionospheric model used is the single layer model based on the Bernese GPS 5.0 Software. The ionosphere TEC map of Malaysia is produced by using the single layer model which can be found in Bernese GPS 5.0 Software. Results show that the ionospheric variation especially the TEC values are different relative to the height studied. The appropriate TEC value for Malaysia is at the height 450 km and the maximun TEC value is at the height of 150 km. These variations play an important role in understanding the TEC nature in ionosphere and thus will simplify the studies about phenomenon happen in ionosphere especially in Malaysia.