Ionospheric and plasmaspheric effects in satellite navigation systems. [Daily and seasonal variations]

Journal Article · Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977 · IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/TAP.1977.1141669· OSTI ID:6586761

Soicher, H

A satellite navigation concept requires determination of time (or phase) delays that satellite-emitted signals experience when traversing the distance between satellite and observer. A pulse propagating this distance is slowed down somewhat from its free space velocity--by an amount directly proportional to the total number of free electrons (TEC) along its path. Ranging accuracy requirements mandate compensation for this additional signal delay. The total electron content for high-orbit satellites includes the ionospheric as well as the plasmaspheric electron content. The Radio Beacon Experiment (RBE) aboard the geostationary ATS-6 Satellite provides the opportunity to determine the ionospheric content (up to heights of approx. 1500 km), the total electron content (from observer to satellite), and the plasmaspheric content (the difference of the two). Observations of ionospheric contents were carried out at Fort Monmouth from the launch of the ATS-6 in May 1974 to its planned drift eastward in June 1975. Diurnal, day-to-day, and seasonal variations of the contents were observed. Diurnal plasmaspheric changes were smaller in percent and in absolute terms than ionospheric changes. While, in general, ionospheric contents were larger during the fall than during the spring, the plasmaspheric contents exhibited the opposite behavior. The diurnal behavior of the ratio of plasmaspheric-to-total contents exhibited variations from approx. 45% at night to approx. >10% during the day, with rapid changes after local sunrise and after local sunset. 8 references.

• Research Organization: Army Electronics Command, Fort Monmouth, NJ
• OSTI ID: 6586761
• Journal Information: IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag.; (United States), Vol. AP-25:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
ELECTRON DENSITY
PLASMASPHERE
SATELLITES
SIGNALS
DAILY VARIATIONS
PULSES
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
VARIATIONS
640201* - Atmospheric Physics- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
640203 - Atmospheric Physics- Magnetospheric Phenomena- (-1987)