Calibrating an Ionosonde for Ionospheric Attenuation Measurements

Area of Science:

• Space Physics
• Atmospheric Science
• Geophysics

Background:

• Vertical ionospheric soundings are common, but signal attenuation is often overlooked.
• Existing methods for absorption measurement have limitations, including unknown ground reflection and inconsistent second reflections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel method for determining absolute signal attenuation in vertical ionospheric soundings.
• To overcome the limitations of traditional absorption measurement techniques.

Main Methods:

• Precise calibration of the ionospheric sounding system.
• Measurement of absolute signal attenuation after a single reflection.
• Analysis of systematic errors due to antenna calibration imperfections.

Main Results:

• The developed method allows for accurate determination of signal attenuation trends over time.
• Demonstration of the method's capabilities through a set of meaningful measurements.
• Identification of systematic errors inherent in the calibration process.

Conclusions:

• The precise calibration method offers a more accurate way to measure ionospheric signal attenuation.
• This technique is particularly valuable for tracking long-term trends in ionospheric absorption.
• Further research can refine calibration for even greater accuracy.