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A method for inverting oblique sounding data in the ionosphere
Author(s) -
Chuang S. L.,
Yeh K. C.
Publication year - 1977
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/rs012i001p00135
Subject(s) - ionogram , oblique case , depth sounding , inversion (geology) , ionosphere , ionospheric sounding , mathematical analysis , mathematics , geometry , algorithm , geophysics , geology , physics , linguistics , philosophy , oceanography , electron density , quantum mechanics , electron , paleontology , structural basin
We have developed in this paper a method of inverting backscatter leading edge ionograms and fixed distance oblique ionograms to obtain ionization profiles. The problem of ionogram inversion is first formulated in such a way that the Backus‐Gilbert technique can be applied. This inversion technique starts by assuming an initial profile based on available knowledge. Oblique group paths are computed by using this initial profile and are compared with the experimental data. The discrepancy in group path is used as a basis for improving the profile and thus an iterative procedure is developed. This iteration is continued until an optimum solution is found. As is well known, when ionograms are given at discrete frequencies there may exist an infinite number of profiles that will yield the observed group path data. Among this infinite number of solutions there is an optimum one in the sense that its fractional departure from the initially assumed profile is a minimum in terms of value at boundaries and in terms of the profile curvature. The method is then applied to the special vertical incidence case and reasonably fast convergence is obtained. This success demonstrates the promise of this method in inverting oblique sounding data.