A Discussion on the early days of ionospheric research and the theory of electric and magnetic waves in the ionosphere and magnetosphere - Early work in Australia, New Zealand and at the Halley Stewart Laboratory, London

Abstract

Ionospheric research began in Australia in 1927 after the formation of the Radio Research Board. A. L. Green, by measuring polarization of downcoming waves travelling in the opposite direction to the Earth’s magnetic field confirmed that electrons were the effective particles. Builder, Pulley and Wood designed equipment for the automatic recording of critical frequencies. Martyn & Pulley found evidence for high temperatures at F region levels. Munro discovered travelling ionospheric disturbances. In New Zealand the earliest measurements were made by Munro in 1927—8. The New Zealand Radio Research Board later supported the measurement of critical frequencies, absorption and collisional frequency of Peddie, White, Banwell and Straker. Australian and New Zealand postgraduate students contributed to Appleton’s group at King’s College and at the Halley Stewart Laboratory, London. Builder introduced the pulse technique and took part in the Polar Year (1932-3) expedition to Tromso. Pulley designed the first manual ionogram equipment. Both returned to work in Sydney. White measured reflexion coefficients and collisional frequencies of electrons and later returned to Canterbury University, New Zealand. The early ionospheric researches sponsored by the Australian and New Zealand Research Boards had a profound influence by expanding university research and the training of many postgraduate students.