## 6 Conclusions
Ionospheric empirical models, such as IRI [10] and NeQuick [11], would benefit from an improved description of \(H_{0}\), which in turn would improve the modeling of the topside profile shape. Moreover, since the scale height at the F2-layer peak (\(H_{0}\)) is tightly connected to the ionospheric equivalent slab thickness [62; 63; 64; 65], a better characterization of \(H_{0}\) would also help in understanding the physical processes driving the plasma distribution in the ionosphere. Conceptualization, A.P. and M.P. ([PERSON]); methodology, A.P., M.P. ([PERSON]) and B.N. ; software, A.P. ; data curation, A.P., I.C. and M.P. ([PERSON]); investigation, A.P., M.P. ([PERSON]), and B.N. ; validation, A.P. ; formal analysis, A.P. ; writing--original draft preparation, A.P. ; writing--review and editing, all authors; funding acquisition, P.D.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. This work has been completed in the framework of the CSES--LIMADOU collaboration ([[http://cses.roma2.infn.it](http://cses.roma2.infn.it)]([http://cses.roma2.infn.it](http://cses.roma2.infn.it)), accessed on 7 April 2023). We acknowledge the Italian Space Agency (ASI) for supporting this work in the framework of contract ASI \"LIMADOU Scienza+\" no 2020-31-HH.0. CSES--01 data are publicly available at [[https://www.leos.ac.cn/](https://www.leos.ac.cn/)]([https://www.leos.ac.cn/](https://www.leos.ac.cn/)) (accessed on 7 April 2023) after registration. ESA Swarm data are publicly available at [[https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data](https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data)]([https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data](https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data)) (accessed on 7 April 2023). COSMIC--1 RO data are stored in the COSMIC Data Analysis and Archive Center (CDAC, [[http://cdaac-www.cosmic.ucar.edu/cdaac/products.html](http://cdaac-www.cosmic.ucar.edu/cdaac/products.html)]([http://cdaac-www.cosmic.ucar.edu/cdaac/products.html](http://cdaac-www.cosmic.ucar.edu/cdaac/products.html)), accessed on the 7 April 2023). F10.7 solar index data were downloaded through the OMNIWeb Data Explorer website ([[https://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/form/dxl.html](https://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/form/dxl.html)]([https://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/form/dxl.html](https://omniweb.gsfc.nasa.gov/form/dxl.html)), accessed on 7 April 2023) maintained by the NASA. IRI Fortran code is available on the IRI website ([[http://irimodel.org/](http://irimodel.org/)]([http://irimodel.org/](http://irimodel.org/)), accessed on the 7 April 2023). This work was made with the use of data from CSES--01 mission, a project funded by the China National Space Administration and the China Earthquake Administration in collaboration with the Italian Space Agency and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare. The authors acknowledge the CSES--01 mission data providers for the significant investments of their time, effort, expertise, and funds needed to acquire and provide data to academic research through the following website: [[https://www.leos.ac.cn/](https://www.leos.ac.cn/)]([https://www.leos.ac.cn/](https://www.leos.ac.cn/)) (accessed on 7 April 2023). The authors also acknowledge the IRI team for developing and maintaining the IRI model and for giving access to the corresponding Fortran code via the IRI website ([[http://irimodel.org/](http://irimodel.org/)]([http://irimodel.org/](http://irimodel.org/)), accessed on 7 April 2023). The authors would also like to thank the European Space Agency for making Swarm data publicly available via [[https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data](https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data)]([https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data](https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/swarm/data)) (accessed on 7 of April 2023) and for the considerable efforts made regarding the Langmuir probes data calibration and maintenance. The authors declare no conflict of interest.