Author: H. E. Whitney

Publisher:

Published: 1977

Total Pages: 146

ISBN-13:

A large scale test program was developed jointly by AFGL and AFAL to evaluate the effects of equatorial ionospheric irregularities on UHF (250 MHz) satellite communications to map the temporal and spatial extent of the equatorial scintillation region, and to determine the geophysical mechanisms leading to the formation of irregularities in the equatorial ionosphere and thus to scintillations. Of specific interest were scintillation characteristics and effects observed by airborne terminals and their relation to simultaneously obtained results from ground based terminals. The test results are based on radio propagation and geophysical measurements conducted from ground and airborne stations and show the general scintillation patterns, latitudinal dependence, heading dependence and signal statistics. Backscatter measurements from the Jicamarca radar and optical observations from the all sky imaging photometer show the development and motion of the irregularity structure. Scintillation plots for several satellites received at the ground stations and on the aircraft are included. (Author).