Unregelmässigkeit und Regelmässigkeit der SporadischenE-Schicht

Abstract

From station's observations much information on top-frequencyfEs, less on blanketing frequencyfbEs is obtained. The results must be interpretated in statistical terms. Time- and distance-correlation functions are established. Daily, seasonal and geographic regularities are discussed. A sharp maximum exists at the magnetic equator but only for the top-frequency. No well defined influence of the solar cycle has been found, only a very weak one of lunar tides. Apart the routine evaluation observations of the variation of the reflection coefficient with frequency have been made. In temperate latitudes in about 1/3 of all cases there is no partial reflection; in the other cases local variations of electron concentration up to 1:2 are found, higher values are rare. At low latitudes the variation may be more important. This is found by a qualitative classification of ionograms of different stations. Such classification has been made for transparency, scatter, angle of incidence and layer developpement. Diffuse echoes exist often near the magnetic equator.Es is always vertically sounded at temperate latitudes. In most cases the ionization originates as a thin layer of constant altitude. Transitory phenomena coming downwards are responsible for «E2s» in daytine. It appears that a cumulo-cirrus-cloud layer is a good model forEs-ionization. An atmospheric ionization process using stored energy from dissociation or ion existence seems to be most probable.