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The Structure of Sporadic E From a Radio Experiment
Author(s) -
Whitehead J. D.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/rs007i003p00355
Subject(s) - ionosonde , sporadic e propagation , high frequency , blanketing , physics , reflection (computer programming) , radio wave , plasma , ionosphere , optics , plasma oscillation , astrophysics , computational physics , geophysics , electron density , nuclear physics , stars , quantum mechanics , computer science , programming language
An ionosonde has been used to measure the ordinary and extraordinary critical and blanketing frequencies separately. While the results support the idea that transparent sporadic‐ E reflections occur from small volumes within the E region, it is likely that the plasma density even in these volumes is often less than that required to cause total reflection. The structure of sporadic E is probably as follows: The peak plasma frequency varies by roughly equal amounts above and below a mean value often by a megahertz or so, within a few kilometers. Some intense blobs cause total reflection; other small volumes of increased plasma frequency strongly scatter radio waves of somewhat greater frequency.