COLD LAKE RADIO PROPAGATION AND METEOROLOGICAL EXPERIMENT. VOLUME I. DESCRIPTION OF A RADIO-METEOROLOGICAL EXPERIMENT TO MEASURE RAY-PATH BENDING IN THE TROPOSPHERE WITH A VERTICAL INTERFEROMETER

Abstract

The purpose of the experimental program described in this report was to determine the direct relationship between meteorological and radio- propagation measurements and then to evaluate the validity of radio- meteorological results for predicting the radio-propagation conditions. The meteorological information was derived from radiosonde measurements and airborne microwave refractometer data. The radio experiments were based on the vertical interferometer technique, in which a single airborne transmitter (S and L Band) was used to establish an interference pattern at the ground-based receiver, due to the combination of direct and lake-surface-reflected signals. Extreme accuracy in the measurements of the parameters involved, in particular in the interferometer experiment, was the keynote to success. The close agreement between the effective earth's radius value obtained from the meteorological measurements and the interferometer technique indicates that this type of radio interferometer can provide meaningful and surprisingly accurate information on the radio propagation conditions. The results also indicate that the radiosonde data, if sufficient care is taken to calibrate it before launch, can give very satisfactory information about radio propagation conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0659746

Entities

People

  • B. J. Starkey
  • G. A. Fatum
  • L. G. Rowlandson

Organizations

  • MITRE Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Altimeters
  • Altitude
  • Control Systems
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Equations
  • Frequency Bands
  • Geometry
  • Measurement
  • Meteorology
  • Radar
  • Radar Altimeters
  • Radio Interferometers
  • Radio Signals
  • Refractive Index
  • Telemetry Equipment

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Atmospheric Remote Sensing.
  • Radar Systems Engineering.