Transionospheric Scintillation and TEC Studies

• Main Authors: Klein, Michael J., Andreasen, C. C., Lansinger, John M.
• Other Authors: NORTHWEST RESEARCH ASSOCIATES INC BELLEVUE WA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1988
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; Navigation and Guidance; *IONOSPHERIC PROPAGATION; *GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM; *RADIO LINKS; ELECTRON DENSITY; STATISTICS; DEPTH; DATA ACQUISITION; AMPLITUDE; IONOSPHERIC SCINTILLATION; SOLAR CYCLE; SUNSPOTS; GREENLAND; DETECTION; QUICK REACTION; COMPUTER PROGRAMS; MEASUREMENT; TEC(TOTAL ELECTRON CONTENT); PE62101F; WUGL464310AC; Greenland; Thule
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA219999; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA219999

This report describes engineering and technical support involving the operation, maintenance, and enhancement of a GPS data collection system that is operated at Thule AB, Greenland, and AFGL at Hanscom AFB, MA, for the purpose of studying transionospheric propagation effects. Software upgrades and improvements are described that relate to data acquisition, problem detection and recovery, and the production of quick-look data summaries containing TEC and amplitude scintillation measurements. An analysis made of data collected at Thule from October 1987 through March 1988 revealed that a direct relationship was observed between TEC enhancement and scintillation activity. Comparisons are made of fade depth statistics observed during the report period with earlier similar measurements taken throughout the peak of the last sunspot cycle. Keywords: Ionospheric effects; Global positioning system; Data acquisition system; Data acquisition software; Total electron content variation; Amplitude scintillation.