Electron Density Profiles and Plasma Drift Measurements with Digital Ionosondes.
Abstract
Knowledge of the three dimensional electron density distribution and the plasma drift in the earth's ionosphere is needed for the radio communication engineer and the geophysicist. The combination of global models, e.g. the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI), modern digital ionosondes, and relatively powerful micro-computers provide the capabilities to overcome the limitations that have heretofore prevented real time ionospheric specification and improved forecasting techniques. The developing network of digital ionosondes provides an improved ionogram data set. The cumbersome evaluation of electron density profiles (EDP), from the ionograms, has been eased with automatic ionogram scaling and related micro-computer based algorithms for calculating EDPs. The purpose of this Scientific Report is to summarize the evolving network of digital ionosondes based on the Digisonde 256 technology and to present techniques that have been developed for calculating electron density profiles and determining the drift velocities. In addition, examples are presented to illustrate related data summaries that can be developed and tailored to the needs of the communication or radar system manager and to the needs of the geophysicist involved in basic and applied research in solar-terrestrial physics. Keywords: Ionospheric; Electron density profiles; Digital ionosonde; Ionospheric drift. (jhd)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA205193
Entities
People
- B. W. Reinisch
- Gary S. Sales
- Jurgen Buchau
- Klaus Bibl
- Robert R. Gamache