Processing of Digital Ionograms,
Abstract
This presentation is a summary of digital ionogram processing techniques. Real-time and on-line methods were emphasized and this implies continuing improvement and increasing complexity of the processing algorithms along with the technological advancements. Of course, a mini or mainframe computer with sufficient memory could perform the processing described here. But for on-line operation at an ionosonde field site cost and environmental conditions generally exclude this approach, and special purpose hardware/microprocessor techniques are the only adequate method. The difference between mini- and microcomputers is diminishing, but the modular microcomputer systems have the advantage of being easily integrated into a digital ionosonde at low costs. The Digisonde 128PS initially outputs complete ionograms (in the ionogram mode) with amplitude, phase, doppler, incidence angle and/or polarization for each frequency-range bin. Post-processing of these ionograms can then extract the ionospheric parameters required for specific investigations. A simple microcomputer algorithm is shown which calculated the electron density profiles from the h'(f) trace during the 1978 Kwajalein Equatorial Spread F campaign.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA125831
Entities
People
- B. W. Reinisch