Feasibility study for reconstructing the spatial‐temporal structure of TIDs from high‐resolution backscatter ionograms

摘要: Over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) utilizes the reflective “sky wave” property of ionosphere for high-frequency radiowaves to illuminate targets at ranges extending several thousand kilometers. However, ionospheric “mirror” is not static but exhibits geographic, diurnal, seasonal, and solar cycle variations. NorthWest Research Associates has developed an data assimilation capability called Global Positioning Satellite Ionospheric Inversion (GPSII; pronounced “gypsy”) that allows real-time modeling structure purpose accurate coordinate registration (CR; OTHR geolocation). routinely subjected traveling disturbances (TIDs), deflection HF sky wave signals by unmodeled TIDs remains a troubling source CR errors (tens kilometers). Traditional tools sounding (vertical backscatter ionograms) do resolve fine spatial associated with TIDs. The collection ionograms using full aperture was recently demonstrated, thus providing enhanced resolution in azimuth comparison conventional soundings utilize only fraction receiver array. Leading edges such demonstrate prominent features We investigate feasibility recovering TID perturbations electron density from high-resolution ionograms. incorporated model naturally occurring into numerical ray tracing code generation synthetic data. augmented GPSII assimilate time series full-aperture ionogram leading edge Results simulation show able reproduce used generate reasonably well.