RADIO STAR SCINTILLATIONS AND IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 UTC 1959 · Canadian Journal of Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1139/p59-131· OSTI ID:4194651

Hartz, T. R.

The generation mechanism/or the ionization irregularities in the upper atmosphere which are responsible for radio star scintillaiions is considered. The general belief that scintillations are related to the spread-F phenomenon observed on ionosonde recordings is found to be an inadequate explanation for the scintillations at 53 Mc/s recorded ai Ottawa. An examination of the Ottawa recordings shows that there is a definite association, both in time of occurrence and geographical location, with those ionospheric disturbances that are usually considered to be due to incoming solar particles. Since other workers at more southerly geomagnetic latitudes have associated their scintillation observations with the spread-F phenomenon which they consider to be independent of auroral activity, it would appear that two mechanisms, at least, are responsible for the radio star fluctuations, the precipitation of solar corpuscles and a mechanism linked with the spread-F phenomenon. The former seems io predominate at high latitudes, the latter is probably predominant at low latitudes, while both mechanisms probably are operative in middle latitudes. (auth)

• Research Organization: Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment, Ottawa
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-14-000739
• OSTI ID: 4194651
• Journal Information: Canadian Journal of Physics, Journal Name: Canadian Journal of Physics Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 37; ISSN 0008-4204
• Publisher: Canadian Science Publishing
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ASTROPHYSICS
ATMOSPHERE
AURORAE
CANADA
COSMIC RADIATION
IONIZATION
IONOSPHERE
PHYSICS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIO WAVES
RECORDING SYSTEMS
SCINTILLATIONS
STARS