IONOSPHERE ELECTRON DENSITIES AND DIFFERENTIAL ABSORPTION

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1961 · Ann. Intern. Geophys., Yr.

OSTI ID:4822705

Seddon, J C; Jackson, J E

Daytime ionosphere measurements made over White Sands using a rocket-to- ground CW radio propagation method are reviewed. The ionosphere is a continuum rather than a series of layers. One measurement of the D region on a day of high absorption showed a fairly sharp lower boundary at 74 km and a maximum electron density of 2,000 electron/cm/sup 3/. The lower edge of the E region has a fairly steep gradient of about 10/sup 4/ electron/cm/sup 3/km. Sporadic-E regions were always found to have a high electron density gradient usually with the total electron density increasing about 10 per cent. In one case, however, the increase was by a factor of 2. Some evidence exists which indicates preferential altitudes for the formation of sporadic-E. The sporadic-E region always extended over many square kllometers with little evidence of any coarse patchiness. The F/ sub 1/ region is merely a low-gradient region in the continuum. The F/sub 2/ region profile was determined by extrapolation of the rocket data using P'-f records taken during the flight. The height of the maximum electron density was close to 300 km. The conventional method of scaling hF/sub 2/ from P'-f records does not give the true height of the F/sub 2/ maximum electron density. The first direct measurements of electron densities in the Arctic ionosphere are reported. These measurements were taken at Ft. Churchill during polar blackouts. One of these flights provided data from 55 to 236 km. The absorption was due to abnormally high electron densities in the D region. Charged particles must play an important role in the creation of this low-level ionization. (auth)

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab., Washington, D.C.
• NSA Number: NSA-16-000892
• OSTI ID: 4822705
• Journal Information: Ann. Intern. Geophys., Yr., Journal Name: Ann. Intern. Geophys., Yr. Vol. Vol: 12: Pt. 2
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ABSORPTION
CANADA
D-LAYER
E-LAYER
ELECTRONS
EMISSION
F- LAYER
GEOPHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
LEVELS
MEASURED VALUES
NEW MEXICO
PHYSICS
RADIO WAVES
ROCKETS