Low Latitude Ionospheric Effects on Radiowave Propagation

Abstract

This dissertation provides experimental observations and analyses that associate low-latitude transionospheric signal scintillation with transequatorial VHF radio propagation and errors in transionospheric geopositioning. The experiment observed equatorial-region ionospheric total electron content (TEC) derived from Global Positioning System (GPS) signals using receivers on Oahu, Hawaii, Christmas Island, and Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The experiment simultaneously measured VHF transequatorial propagation of VHF television signals from Hawaii to Rarotonga Analysis shows that a moving second moment of vertical-equivalent TEC strongly correlates to each VHF transequatorial radio propagation event From experimental observation analysis, the author develops models for prediction of TEP and nine-space distribution of low-latitude transionospheric scintillation. The author also develops equations that show the potential errors in nine, frequency, and angle used in geopositioning solutions. These three parameters are potentially correctable using these techniques.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA349798

Entities

People

  • Rasler W. Smith

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Angle Of Arrival
  • Charged Particles
  • Christmas Island
  • Computers
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Electron Density
  • Electrons
  • Equations
  • Frequency
  • Geography
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Grids
  • Ionosphere
  • Latitude
  • Measurement
  • Refractive Index
  • Wave Propagation

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science
  • Physics

Readers

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space