Some properties of ionospheric irregularities as deduced from recordings of the San Marco II and BE-B satellites

Abstract

Recordings of scintillations on signals received at Nairobi from satellites San Marco II and BE-B have been analysed by correlation and dispersion methods, the correlation method equations being derived in a simpler way. The dispersion technique, which gives more detailed results, has been used to derive the height variation of irregularity size and occurrence. The peak of occurrence is found to be near hmF2. The average size is somewhat greater than 100 m and does not vary significantly with height. On individual passes, the height of irregularities increases towards the magnetic equator. Irregularity patches are found to move with a velocity of about 20 msec−1 towards the east before 0600 LMT and to the west after this time. There is evidence of some vertical structure. It is shown that there is considerable polarisation scintillation at 20 MHz.