Using the USU Ionospheric Model to Predict Radio Propagation through a Simulated Ionosphere.
Abstract
To evaluate the capabilities of communication, navigation, and defense systems utilizing electromagnetic waves which interact with the ionosphere, a three-dimensional ray tracing program was used. A simple empirical model (Chapman function) and a complex physical model (Schunk and Sojka model) were used to compare the representation of ionospheric conditions. Four positions were chosen to test four different features of the northern hemispheric ionosphere. It seems that decreasing electron density has little or no effect on the horizontal components of the ray path while increasing electron density causes deviations in the ray path. It was also noted that rays in the physical model's mid-latitude trough region escaped the ionosphere for all frequencies used in this study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA231599
Entities
People
- Gary R. Huffines
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology