The effect of solar and geomagnetic activity on ionospheric propagation

This report studied the effects that solar and geomagnetic activity has on ionospheric propagation. The goals of this study were to identify solar emissions that help and hinder high frequency broadcasting and to determine how much the signal strength and, the maximum usable frequency of the one-hop and two-hop F2 mode decreased during disturbed propagating conditions. A series of measurements were taken using the calibrated antenna and receiver system (CARS) during the month of February 1994 in order to show the differences between ionospherically disturbed and undisturbed days. Research from previous reports and text books were used to clarify the data. Although a decrease in signal strength for this experiment could not be tied to solar and geomagnetic activity, the change in the daily maximum observable frequencies scaled from the recorded ionograms shows a strong correlation. The data collected shows that the usable frequency band becomes limited on disturbed days. Additional data should be collected for extended periods of time and analyzed in the same manner as outlined in this paper to develop a plan for the worst case scenario in order to guarantee successful propagation