A method for derivation of electric fields in the lower ionosphere from measurements with a partial reflection facility

The distribution of variations in the effective electron collision frequency was obtained in the 60-66 km altitude range in the lower ionosphere (experimental errors within this altitude range were less than 50%). A technique for estimating the variations in atmospheric electric fields at the lower boundary of the ionosphere was developed using the experimental values of the effective electron collision frequency. From our measurements follows that the electric field E>0.25 V·m^-1 in approximately 70% cases under quiet ionospheric and atmospheric conditions. These facts must be taken into account in the investigations of ionospheric processes, meteorological and propagation effects