| Summary: | The purpose of this experiment is to study the impact of diurnal solar variations on the ionosphere by examining changes in high frequency radio signals propagating to McMurdo Station in Antarctica and the University of Scranton, Scranton, PA using signals of opportunity. The ionosphere is an electrically charged layer of Earth’s atmosphere that has a large impact on the transmitting and receiving of radio waves. Ionospheric variability modulates electromagnetic signals that propagate through the ionosphere, including the radio frequency range: 20 kHz to 300 GHz by bending, refracting, or absorbing the waves. This research uses high frequency, 3-30 MHz, radio receiving techniques to study the impact of the solar diurnal cycle on the ionosphere during the month of January 2020 from two locations. Data is analyzed and interpreted using python. By studying ionospheric variability, we are able to expand our knowledge on the ionosphere itself, as well as the relationship it has to radio communications.
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