Amplitude and Phase Scintillation and Ionospheric Irregularities at Sub-Auroral Latitudes

Abstract

Intensity and phase scintillation has been studied by monitoring transmissions from NNSS satellites at Lerwick, a sub-auroral location in northern UK. Observations commenced in July 1987 and the first part of the present report concentrates on an analysis of scintillation occurrence morphology during the first ten months of the investigation. A discrete region of irregularities close to the boundary is implied from the observations while the absence of a significant geometrical enhancement about the geomagnetic field position suggests that the irregularities close to the boundary may have small axial ratios. The remainder of the report is concerned with a comparative study of the scintillation boundary for irregularities of sub-kilometer scale and the boundary of <30 m scale irregularities causing auroral backscatter of HF radar signals. In general the scintillation boundary was found to be some 7 to 8 deg polewards of that detected by the radar. In a reanalysis of the data a reconciliation could be made to get agreement in only about half of cases studied. Keywords: Radio wave scintillations; Ionospheric irregularities; High latitude ionosphere; Great Britain.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 31, 1989
Accession Number
ADA222861

Entities

People

  • C. D. Russell
  • L. Kersley
  • S. E. Pryse

Organizations

  • Aberystwyth University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amplitude
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Classification
  • Computer Programs
  • Data Sets
  • Databases
  • Frequency
  • High Latitudes
  • Intensity
  • Ionosphere
  • Latitude
  • Northern Europe
  • Observation
  • Radar
  • Radio Waves
  • Scintillation
  • Universities

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.
  • Space/Atmospheric Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Space