Title: A study of the effects of temperature variations on radio wave absorption. Research and development technical report. [5 MHz]
Abstract: During certain days in winter, radio waves experience higher than usual amounts of absorption. A possible cause of these anomalous winter days is mesospheric temperature variations which alter the electron collision frequencies and indirectly enhance radio wave absorption. The effects of temperature variations on radio wave absorption are discussed in this report. Electron collision frequencies are determined for different temperature profiles and to account for absorption due to electron density variations. Electron density profiles on certain days during the 1972 winter months of January and February are obtained from partial reflection sounder data, C3 sounder ionograms, and a model. The electron collision frequencies and electron densities are used to calculate the absorption of a 5 MHz signal transmitted from Fort Collins, Colorado, to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The absorption calculations are made by utilizing the Appleton-Hartree equations. Absorption calculations show that temperature increases can cause a significant increase in collision frequency; however, the amount of the absorption increases was found to be critically dependent on the altitude of reflection of the 5MHz signal.
Publication Year: 1976
Publication Date: 1976-11-01
Language: en
Type: article
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