Ionogram inversion for a tilted ionosphere

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Radio Science; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/RS025i006p01175· OSTI ID:6101135

Wright, J W ^[1]

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1. British Antartic Survey, Cambridge (England)

Digital ionosondes such as the Dynasonde disclose that the ionosphere is seldom horizontal even when it is plane stratified to a good approximation. The local magnetic dip does not then determine correctly the radiowave propagation angle for inversion of the ionogram to a plasma density profile. The measured echo direction of arrival can be used together with the known dip for an improved propagation angle. The effects are small for simple one-parameter laminae but become important when differential (ordinary, extraordinary) retardations are used to aid correction for valley and starting ambiguities. The resulting profile describes the plasma distribution along the direction of observation, rather than the vertical; it thus conveys information about horizontal gradients. Observations suggest that advantages in inversion methods may be practicable for application to modern ionosonde recordings, by which local lateral structure can be described in greater detail. 20 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6101135
• Journal Information: Radio Science; (USA), Journal Name: Radio Science; (USA) Vol. 25; ISSN 0048-6604; ISSN RASCA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
F REGION
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
IONOSONDES
IONOSPHERE
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA DENSITY
RADIATIONS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
STRATIFICATION