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Application of ionospheric predictions to HF propagation in three dimensions
Author(s) -
Beckwith R. I.,
Bailey A. D.,
Rao N. Narayana
Publication year - 1974
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/rs009i003p00379
Subject(s) - ionosphere , azimuth , ray tracing (physics) , middle latitudes , computational physics , reflection (computer programming) , mode (computer interface) , angle of arrival , great circle , ionospheric reflection , radio propagation , diurnal temperature variation , physics , wave propagation , geodesy , geology , atmospheric sciences , optics , geophysics , ionospheric absorption , telecommunications , computer science , antenna (radio) , astronomy , programming language , operating system
The application of ionospheric predictions is extended to three‐dimensional HF propagation by using a simplified ray‐tracing technique involving an ionospheric model consisting of an equivalent spherical reflection surface eccentric with the earth. Predicted ray‐path deviations from the great‐circle plane and other propagation characteristics are investigated for a medium range midlatitude path by using the NOAA prediction coefficients. The predicted monthly mean diurnal behavior of the azimuthal angle of arrival of the HF signal is compared with experimental data. It is found that the observed occurrence of wave‐interference effects is strongly correlated with the predicted occurrence of multiple mode propagation and that the trend of the diurnal variation of the predicted azimuthal angle of arrival for the dominant mode is consistent with the average diurnal trend of the experimental observations.