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Variance and spectra of angle-of-arrival and Doppler fluctuations caused by ionospheric scintillation

Author:
Published in:
J. of Geophysical Research, May 1, 1978, Vol. 83, No. A5, pp. 2091-2102.

Summary

The variance and spectra of angle-of-arrival and Doppler fluctuations were estimated by using 150- and 400-MHz transmissions from the low-orbiting U.S. Navy navigation satellites observed at the Millstone Hill radar facility. A theoretical model for the variance and spectra was also constructed by using the Rytov approximation and a power law power spectrum model for the electron density fluctuations. The model provided a means for the estimation of both the axial ratio and the location of the lower edge of the irregularity region, using only angle-of-arrival and Doppler observations made at a single location. Good agreement was obtained between the model estimates and observations. Analysis of data from two magnetic storms revealed simultaneous occurrences of E region and F region irregularities at invariant latitudes north of 56°.
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Summary

The variance and spectra of angle-of-arrival and Doppler fluctuations were estimated by using 150- and 400-MHz transmissions from the low-orbiting U.S. Navy navigation satellites observed at the Millstone Hill radar facility. A theoretical model for the variance and spectra was also constructed by using the Rytov approximation and a power...

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Ionospheric scintillation

Author:
Published in:
Proc. of the IEEE, Vol. 65, No. 2, February 1977, pp. 180-199.

Summary

Available observations of ionospheric scintillation are analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of existing models used for the interpretation of scintillation data. The theoretical models are reviewed and the frequency and propagation geometry dependences predicted by the models are compared with the observations. The models were used to construct scintillation occurrence distribution functions which show that scintillation phenomena significantly affect the design of transionospheric radar or communication systems operating at frequencies below 1 GHz. Diversity schemes useful for mitigation of scintillation effects are considered. Mention is made of the geophysical processes thought to be responsible for scintillation.
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Summary

Available observations of ionospheric scintillation are analyzed to evaluate the adequacy of existing models used for the interpretation of scintillation data. The theoretical models are reviewed and the frequency and propagation geometry dependences predicted by the models are compared with the observations. The models were used to construct scintillation occurrence...

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Radar detection of thunderstorm hazards for air traffic control volume I: storm cell detection

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report ATC-67,I

Summary

A procedure was developed to detect hazardous regions within thunderstorms using weather radar data. The procedure is based upon the hypothesis that convective turbulence occurs within 2-3 km of relative radar reflectivity maxima (cells). The hypothesis was tested using a limited set of simultaneous aircraft and radar data. Good agreement was found between the observed regions of convective turbulence and the cell locations determined by radar. The viability of the hazard detection hypothesis as a basis for automatic warning and forcast depends upon the reliability of the cell detection and tracking algorithms. Analysis of precision radar data revealed that the cells are small in area extent, have a detection probability in excess of 0.9 using multiple radar scans, and are readily tracked for periods between 10 and 20 minutes. The characteristics of radar systems for acquiring data to support cell detection, are discussed. The role of Doppler spectral data is explored, and it is found that practical limitations on radar beamwidth hamper direct observation of turbulence on the scale size hazardous to aircraft.
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Summary

A procedure was developed to detect hazardous regions within thunderstorms using weather radar data. The procedure is based upon the hypothesis that convective turbulence occurs within 2-3 km of relative radar reflectivity maxima (cells). The hypothesis was tested using a limited set of simultaneous aircraft and radar data. Good agreement...

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Low elevation angle measurement limitations imposed by the troposphere - and analysis of scintillation observations made at Haystack and Millstone

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report TR-518

Summary

Tropospheric angle-of-arrival and amplitude scintillation measurements were made at X-band (7.3 GHz) and at UHF (0.4 GHz). The measurements were made using sources on satellites with 12-day orbits. The angle of arrival of the ray path to a satellite changed slowly allowing observations of fluctuations caused by atmospheric irregularities as they slowly drifted across the ray path. The fluctuations were characterized by the rms variations of elevation angle and the logarithm of received power (log power). Over a one-year period, 458 hours of observation were amassed spanning every season, time of day, and weather conditions. The results show strong scintillation occurrences below 1 to 2 degrees elevation angles characterized by a number of random occurrences of multipath events that produce deep fades, angle-of-arrival fluctuations, and depolarization of the received signal. The log power fluctuations ranged from 1 to 10 dB rms at elevation angles below 2 degrees to less than 0.1 dB at elevation angles above 10 degrees. The elevation angle fluctuations ranged from 1 to 100 mdeg at elevation angles below 2 degrees to less than 5 mdeg at a 10 degrees elevation angle. Comparable fluctuations in elevation angle are expected for bias refraction correction models based upon the use of surface values of the refractive index.
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Summary

Tropospheric angle-of-arrival and amplitude scintillation measurements were made at X-band (7.3 GHz) and at UHF (0.4 GHz). The measurements were made using sources on satellites with 12-day orbits. The angle of arrival of the ray path to a satellite changed slowly allowing observations of fluctuations caused by atmospheric irregularities as...

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Spectra of ionospheric scintillation

Author:
Published in:
J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 81, No. 13, 1 May 1976, pp. 2041-2050.

Summary

Observation of amplitude and phase scintillation were made at the Millstone Hill radar facility by using phase coherent sources at 150 and 400 MHz on the U.S. Navy navigation system satellites. These observations have been processed to yield power spectra of the fluctuations in the logarithm of the received power (log power) at each frequency and the calculations in phase path length difference (differential phase) between the two frequencies. A theoretical analysis was performed to predict the log power and differential phase power spectra. The theoretical model was based upon weak scatter theory for a thick screen with a three-dimensional power law power spectrum representation for the electron density fluctuations. A -4 exponent for the power law best fit the observed spectra. For weak scintillation (rms fluctuations in log power less than 5 dB or S4 < 0.9) the theroretical calculations were in excellent agreement with the observations. For strong scintillation, saturation was observed, and the measured spectra were broader than those predicted on the basis of weak scatter theory. An increase in electron density fluctuations relative to the value predicted by the power law model was observed at scale sizes smaller than 0.8 km.This increase may be responsible for the anomalous scintillation observations at gigahertz frequencies.
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Summary

Observation of amplitude and phase scintillation were made at the Millstone Hill radar facility by using phase coherent sources at 150 and 400 MHz on the U.S. Navy navigation system satellites. These observations have been processed to yield power spectra of the fluctuations in the logarithm of the received power...

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Morphology of ionospheric scintillation

Author:
Published in:
MIT Lincoln Laboratory Report TN-1974-29

Summary

This report is directed toward providing information to communication systems designers first about scintillation as observed in a single experiment, second about the adequacy of the existing models used to interpret scintillation data, and finally about the variation of scintillation with geophysical parameters.
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Summary

This report is directed toward providing information to communication systems designers first about scintillation as observed in a single experiment, second about the adequacy of the existing models used to interpret scintillation data, and finally about the variation of scintillation with geophysical parameters.

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Bistatic scatter from rain

Author:
Published in:
IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., Vol. 22, No. 2, March 1974, pp. 312-320.

Summary

An experimental investigation of bistatic scatter from rain was conducted using a 143 km scatter path at frequencies of 4.5 and 7.7 GHz. The ratio of transmitted to received power (transmission loss) was measured for scattering angles ranging from6\degto130\deg. Simultaneous weather radar observations were made at a frequency of 1.3 GHz. Transmission loss estimates for the bistatic scatter path were computed using the weather radar data, the bistatic radar equation, and a model for the scattering cross section per unit volume of rain based upon Rayleigh scattering by an ensemble of water spheres. The measured and estimated transmission loss values were compared to test the use of the scattering model for the estimation of interference. The averaged ratio of measured-to-calculated transmission loss for the 4.5 GHz data is 1.2\pm 0.4dB. The averaged ratio for the 7.7 GHz data is -1.6\pm 0.5dB. Both these values are within the combined calibration uncertainties of each measurement system. The results show that the use of the simplified Rayleigh scattering cross section model for an ensemble of water spheres adequately describes bistatic scatter for a wide range of scattering angles and frequencies below 7.7 GHz for the hydrometeor types (rain, snow, and mixed rain and snow) encountered in New England.
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Summary

An experimental investigation of bistatic scatter from rain was conducted using a 143 km scatter path at frequencies of 4.5 and 7.7 GHz. The ratio of transmitted to received power (transmission loss) was measured for scattering angles ranging from6\degto130\deg. Simultaneous weather radar observations were made at a frequency of 1.3...

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The rain range experiment -- propagation through a simulated rain environment

Author:
Published in:
IEEE Trans. Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 22, No. 2, March 1974, pp. 321-328.

Summary

The rain range experiment was conducted to test the adequacy of the assumptions usually made in the analysis of attenuation or phase shift due to rain: spherical drop shape, Mie scattering for a single drop, and single scattering theory for the coherent summation of the effects of each drop. A sprayer system was built that provided a stable drop size distribution that was measured and used for the estimation of the attenuation and phase shift on a line-of-sight measurement path through the spray. Measurements of attenuation and phase shift were made using vertical and horizontal polarization at 7.9 GHz and vertical polarization at 33.9 GHz. The results of the experiment show agreement between measurements and the theoretical model. The 7.9 GHz data also showed the attenuation and phase shift for horizontal polarization to be higher than for vertical polarization.
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Summary

The rain range experiment was conducted to test the adequacy of the assumptions usually made in the analysis of attenuation or phase shift due to rain: spherical drop shape, Mie scattering for a single drop, and single scattering theory for the coherent summation of the effects of each drop. A...

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Morphology of ionospheric scintillation

Author:
Published in:
Proc. AIAA 12th Aerospace Sciences Mtg., 30 January - 1 February 1974, pp. 1-16.

Summary

Small scale ionospheric irregularities in the F-region can cause fluctuations in the amplitude, phase, and angle of arrival of VHF. UHF, and SHF signals traversing the ionosphere. Under some conditions, the power level fluctuations or scintillations at VHF and UHF may become severe with 12 dB signal level increases and fades in excess of 30 dB being observed. Current information about the probabilities of occurrence of severe fades is derived from a number of experiments using either radio star or satellite borne sources. The measurements are generally of signal level only and have been used to calculate scintillation indices to characterize scintillation intensity. An examination of the global distribution of scintillation indices show that scintillations are of importance to communication system performance primarily in the auroral and polar regions and at night near the geomagnetic equator.
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Summary

Small scale ionospheric irregularities in the F-region can cause fluctuations in the amplitude, phase, and angle of arrival of VHF. UHF, and SHF signals traversing the ionosphere. Under some conditions, the power level fluctuations or scintillations at VHF and UHF may become severe with 12 dB signal level increases and...

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Propagation phenomena affecting satellite communications systems operating in the centimeter and millimeter wavelength bands

Author:
Published in:
Proc. IEEE, Vol. 59, No. 2, February 1971, pp. 173-188.

Summary

The theories describing the effects of the troposphere on satellite communication systems operating in the microwave region are reviewed. The results of computations based upon the theories and atmospheric models are presented and compared with available experimental data. From the model computations it is seen that rain causes the major propagation problems for the frequency bands allocated to or proposed for allocation to the satellite communications service. Two effects are dominant: attenuation due to rainfall along the line-of-sight and interference between two systems operating at the same frequency and beyond each other's radio horizon due to rain scatter. The methods for calculating the magnitude of the effects of rain given the spatial distribution of rainfall intensity are available. The statistical data required for the prediction of the spatial distribution of rainfall intensity are not available.
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Summary

The theories describing the effects of the troposphere on satellite communication systems operating in the microwave region are reviewed. The results of computations based upon the theories and atmospheric models are presented and compared with available experimental data. From the model computations it is seen that rain causes the major...

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