Impact of the solar cycle on over-the-horizon radar systems

Technical Report · Thu May 03 00:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6193443

Schleher, J S

Skywave Over-the-horizon Backscatter radar system (OTH-B RS) depend on ionospheric propagation conditions. These change with many different cycles; the diurnal cycle, the seasonal cycle and the solar cycle; and with the geographic location and design of the system. Testing the radars under conditions that represent the range of possible variations is difficult. An operational test of a half year or less, can obtain representative data for all but the solar cycle. Missing geographic ionospheric test conditions can be obtained by using data gathered in other locations and by using historical data. Testing system performance over the solar cycle can be accomplished by modeling and simulation. Several models have been developed to accomplish this task. The drawback to this approach is that modeling requires forecasts for the next solar cycle which the scientific community has great difficulty providing. This paper reviews the impact of solar cycle ionospheric changes have on OTH-B RS that operate in the mid-latitude ionosphere, and view the polar and the equatorial ionosphere. These effects are related to the solar cycle changes in solar flux and geomagnetic conditions. The lack of success of the solar-terrestrial physics community in forecasting the next solar cycle and the accompanying geomagnetic disturbances is considered. Finally, an approach to circumvent the need for a forecast of the solar flux magnitude and timing in OTH-B RS performance modeling is suggested.

• Research Organization: BDM International, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6193443
• Report Number(s): AD-P-006289/3/XAB
• Resource Relation: Other Information: This article is from 'The Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Signals and Systems Performance Based on Ionospheric Effects Symposium Held on 1-3 May 1990', AD-A233 797, p229-236
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
IONOSPHERE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RADAR
PERFORMANCE TESTING
WAVE PROPAGATION
BACKSCATTERING
DAILY VARIATIONS
DISTURBANCES
GEOMAGNETIC FIELD
INTERACTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SEASONAL VARIATIONS
SOLAR CYCLE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADIATIONS
RANGE FINDERS
SCATTERING
TESTING
VARIATIONS
661320* - Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena- (1992-)