Wideband Satellite Observations
Abstract
The Wideband Satellite (P76-5) was launched on 22 May 1976 and data have been recorded at three receiving stations since that time. The unique nature of the Wideband signals (coherent transmissions covering VHF to S-band) and the geophysically interesting locations of the receiving stations (covering auroral and equatorial latitudes) have led to a number of new and significant results. These results pertain to both scintillation phenomenology and the physics of striation formulation. This report presents the results of the first year of Wideband operations; work described previously in detailed bimonthly progress reports is only summarized here. Emphasis is placed on aspects not previously described, including: (1) evidence for a geometrical scintillation enhancement due to east-west sheet-like irregularity structures in the auroral zone; (2) spaced-receiver measurements of the diffraction pattern anisotropy and apparent drift motion; (3) total electron content measurements of the paleward boundary of the ionospheric trough; (4) characteristics of equatorial scintillations, particularly the gigahertz scintillation that develop during extremely active periods; and (5) results from the equatorial scintillation campaign conducted in Peru during March 1977. Using the Wideband data base with theoretical work and systems analysis, it should be possible to develop a self- consistent model relating a simple parameterization of the irregularity structure and strength to the observed phase and amplitude scintillations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1977
- Accession Number
- ADA048801
Entities
People
- B. C. Fair
- C. L. Rino
- E. J. Fremouw
- M. D. Cousins
- R. C. Livingston
Organizations
- SRI International