Multifrequency, long wave, vertical sounding of the lower ionosphere

Vertical pulse sounding at 30, 60, 180, and 520 kHz at Quabbin Reservoir, MA, USA, reveals diurnal and seasonal variations in structure, reflectivity, and height of the lower ionosphere. A solid state wideband amplifier feeds 10 kW peak power into a ground-laid six-element antenna. A special digital sampling and integration scheme selects median values of amplitude and phase received at perpendicular loop antennas. Day and nighttime D-region model profiles are fitted to the observed data by matching group height and reflection coefficient. Emphasis is placed on the nighttime residual E-layer observed at 100 km with an electron density, under undisturbed conditions, around 1000/cc. Long and short term variability of this layer is considerable. It is often semi-transparent as indicated by simultaneous E- and F-region echoes, suggesting the presence of a valley above the nighttime E-layer. (Author)