Automatic interpretation of oblique sounding ionograms based on hybrid algorithms

Abstract

The paper presents a method of interpreting data on oblique ionosphere sounding (OS) with a continuous chirp signal. Hybrid algorithms for automatic interpretation of ionograms by selected points with significant amplitude obtained during secondary data processing for various heliogeophysical conditions have been developed and implemented. For the conditions of the two-layer ionosphere, an interpretation method has been worked out which involves analyzing histograms for the distribution of points with significant amplitude, which fall into a model mask constructed from the results of modeling of the distance-frequency characteristic for propagation when it moves over the ionogram. For the multilayer ionosphere, the interpretation is based on the study of the ionogram amplitude relief. The algorithms for extracting tracks of signals reflected from sporadic layers are examined separately. We report the results of interpretation of ionograms obtained on the network of chirp sounding radio paths in the northeastern region of Russia.

Keywords

• ionosphere
• ionogram
• radio wave propagation
• oblique ionosphere sounding