Ionospheric motions studied through the use of radio beacon techniques

Drifting ionospheric irregularity structures are analyzed on the basis of satellite beacon data collected at the Naval Communication Area Master Station on Guam (13.5 deg N, 144.9 deg E). The data, collected nightly during April 1982-May 1983, provide examples of both strong and weak scintillation caused by the drifting irregularity patches. Using the model for the correlation function and the actual correlation function calculated from the beacon data, a novel technique for determining the east-west drift velocity and the characteristic random velocity of the diffraction pattern is presented.