Ionospheric propagation experiments using rockets and satellites

Abstract

Rocket-borne and satellite-borne radio transmitters have been used to investigate ionospheric irregularities. The amplitude, phase, and polarization of the radio waves as received on the ground can provide important information about the spatial gradients of ionization through which the waves have travelled. In particular it has been possible to derive quite detailed ionization profiles by two independent methods; angle-of-arrival and Faraday rotation measurements. The good agreement obtained between the two methods for a certain range of scale sizes where both methods are valid suggests that outside this range where one or other method is to be preferred, it can be used with confidence.