Accession Number:

AD0525863

Title:

Experiments and Models for Prairie Smoke

Descriptive Note:

Internal technical rept. 1 Apr-1 Oct 1972

Corporate Author:

AERONOMY CORP CHAMPAIGN IL

Personal Author(s):

• Bowhill, S. A.
• Mendenhall, E. E.

Report Date:

1972-11-01

Pagination or Media Count:

108.0

Abstract:

This report describes satellite transmission experiments carried out in Prairie Smoke Ib and II to investigate the horizontal extent, altitude distribution, intensity and frequency dependence of field-aligned artificial spread F ASF irregularities. Using these data, a quantitative morphological model is described in which the irregularities are contained within a tilted cylinder, with axis parallel to the magnetic field direction, and a radius of 50 km, centered 30 km north of the heater at an altitude of 300 km. The fractional fluctuation of electron density was found to be about 0.1 percent at full power, and the correlation distance normal to the field was about 100 m. The irregularities were found to extend through the entire F region between 200 and 400 km altitude. The depth was found to vary inversely with frequency, in accordance with theory. Also presented in this report is a model for the small- scale structure, including an analytic technique to determine the thickness of the disturbed region from the change in echo return range with elevation of a monostatic radar semi-thicknesses of about 25 km are found.

Descriptors:

• *RADIO TRANSMISSION
• *SPACE COMMUNICATIONS
• ATMOSPHERES
• BISTATIC RADAR
• CIRCULAR ORBITS
• DATA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS
• DRIFT
• HEATING
• HIGH ALTITUDE
• INFORMATION THEORY
• IONOSPHERIC DISTURBANCES
• IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION
• MAGNETIC FIELDS
• MATHEMATICAL MODELS
• MONOSTATIC RADAR
• MULTIPLEXING
• POLAR ORBIT TRAJECTORIES
• RADAR CROSS SECTIONS
• RADAR SIGNALS
• RADAR TRACKING
• RANGE(DISTANCE)
• SCATTERING
• SCINTILLATION

Subject Categories:

• Active and Passive Radar Detection and Equipment
• Unmanned Spacecraft
• Non-Radio Communications

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE