Investigation of Methods for Updating Ionospheric Scintillation Models UsingTopside In situ Plasma Density Measurements

摘要

Modern military communication, navigation, and surveillance systems depend onreliable, noise free transionospheric radio-frequency channels and can be severely impacted by small-scale electron-density irregularities in the ionosphere. This report summarizes the results of a three year investigation into the methods for updating ionospheric scintillation models using observations of ionospheric plasma-density irregularities measured by the DMSP Scintillation Meter (SM) sensor. Results are reported from the analysis of data from a campaign conducted in January 1990 near Tromso, Norway, in which near coincident in-situ plasma-density and transionospheric scintillation measurements were made. Estimates for the level of intensity and phase scintillation on a transionospheric UBF radio link in the early-evening auroral zone were calculated from DMSP SM data and compared to the levels actually observed. Results are also presented from a comparison with scintillation observations made with a coincident DNA Polar BEAR satellite pass. Ionosphere, Ionospheric Scintillation, Radiowave Scintillation, Defense Meteorology Satellite Program (DMSP).