Ionospheric drift measurements using correlation analysis; methods of computation and interpretation of results

Abstract

Correlation analysis of the fading of radio waves, for the purpose of determining ionospheric drifts, has usually required certain manual and graphical calculations. It is shown how the complete analysis can be carried out numerically by a computer. The definition of the characteristic velocity V c for anisometric patterns is discussed. It is shown that for certain simple models of the movements in the ionosphere V c can be identified with the speed of hypothetical wave-like systems of irregularities.