On the Influence of Meteor-Radiant Distributions in Meteor-Scatter Communication

The relative effectiveness of various regions of the atmosphere in furnishing usable meteor trails is examined on the basis of several distributions of meteor radiants. An idealized distribution in which the radiants lie near the ecliptic is analyzed and the results compared with previous calculations for a uniform radiant distribution. Experimental data on a 250-km link between Knoxville, Tenn., and Atlanta, Ga., show evidence of a rather diffuse concentration of radiants near the ecliptic. A method for predicting the contributions of meteor showers to forward-scatter propagation is developed. As an example the August Perseid shower is studied on the Knoxville-Atlanta link. Experimental data show good agreement with the shower analysis.