Characterization of High Latitude Radiowave Propagation over Canada

High frequency (HF) radio propagation is important to many frequently used technologies including long-range communications (used by the aviation industry, the military, the shipping industry, and many others), over-the-horizon radar (OTHR), and remote sensing of the ionosphere. HF radio communication is especially important in the high latitude region, where a lack of infrastructure makes it the only option. Since the high latitude ionosphere is especially sensitive to space weather events, it is important that space weather effects on the ionosphere can be detected and understood. Changes to propagation conditions can be directly measured with an HF transmitter/receiver link. We present data from one such link, consisting of a transmitter in Ottawa, ON and a directional receiver in Alert, NU. The transmitter sends out signals at various frequencies between 5.4 and 14.4 MHz on a set schedule that are detected and processed by the receiver. Using years of archived data, we present a statistical analysis characterizing how HF radio propagation conditions change over the course of the day and over the year. A new method for distinguishing space weather effects from diurnal changes to HF propagation is presented, which utilizes quiet day baselines, similar to riometer quiet day curves. This method allows for easy analysis of the impacts of space weather events on HF radio propagation between two points.