MF skywave propagation
Abstract
The paper relates skywave signal strength to lower ionosphere modeling. The variability of the ionosphere is described in statistical terms, and the resulting signal is specified as a mean estimate with confidence intervals assumed to be normally distributed. Lower ionosphere electron density profiles, which represent a range of locations, seasons, sunspot numbers and times of day, are used in regression analyses to obtain models for electron density variability as a function of location and time. Reflection coefficients are computed to obtain signal variability, and ionospheric modeling and predicted sensitivities are reported with demonstrations of applications in estimating field strength variability. The need for an expanded data base is also demonstrated. The approach allows the estimation of skywave signal strengths, their variability, and the errors of prediction in a useful form.
- Publication:
-
In: Symposium on the Effect of the Ionosphere on Radiowave Systems
- Pub Date:
- 1981
- Bibcode:
- 1981eirs.sympT....M
- Keywords:
-
- Ionospheric Propagation;
- Kilometric Waves;
- Lower Ionosphere;
- Radio Echoes;
- Sky Waves;
- Atmospheric Models;
- Confidence Limits;
- Data Bases;
- Electron Density Profiles;
- Ionospheric Electron Density;
- Regression Analysis;
- Signal Reflection;
- Solar Activity Effects;
- Spectral Reflectance;
- Sunspots;
- Communications and Radar