High-Frequency Channel Modeling Based on the Multi-Source Ionospheric Assimilation Model

Abstract

In this paper, we explored how to more accurately predict the quality of high-frequency links and how to better research and improve the capabilities of high-frequency communication, reconnaissance, and positioning systems. Based on the background electron density generated by the ionospheric assimilation model and 3D ray-tracing technology, more realistic and accurate high-frequency channel parameters with physical meanings were obtained. On this basis, a complete high-frequency channel model that can be used for simulation and prediction was constructed. First, the ionospheric assimilation model, the high-frequency channel model, and the method used for calculating the parameters of the high-frequency channel model based on the background electron density generated by the multi-source ionospheric assimilation model are introduced. Then, the HF oblique sounding experiment and experimental data processing are introduced. Finally, the modeling and simulation of the high-frequency channel are compared with the HF oblique sounding experimental results. The simulation results showed that the modeling results of the high-frequency channel based on the multi-source ionospheric assimilation model proposed in this paper were similar to the HF oblique sounding experimental results. The average deviation of the difference between the simulation results and the experimental ones of the group path, the group path broadening, and the Doppler frequency shift are 29.2200 km, 17.3456 km, and 0.2121 Hz, respectively. The group delay, Doppler frequency shift, and delay broadening results calculated by the high-frequency channel model simulation were relatively accurate and could be used in high-frequency channel quality reporting and prediction, high-frequency reconnaissance and geolocation, and high-frequency radar frequency selection and positioning, etc.