Consolidated Amateur Radio Signal Reports as Indicators of Intense Sporadic E Layers
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Chris Deacon; Cathryn Mitchell; Robert Watson
- Source
- Atmosphere, Vol 13, Iss 6, p 906 (2022)
- Subject
- sporadic E
Es
amateur radio reporting networks
ionosphere
mesosphere-lower thermosphere
citizen science
Meteorology. Climatology
QC851-999
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 2073-4433
A case study is presented which demonstrates the value and validity of a novel approach to the use of consolidated amateur (‘ham’) radio reception reports as indicators of the presence of intense ionospheric sporadic E (Es). It is shown that the use of amateur data can provide an important supplement to other techniques, allowing the detection and tracking of Es where no suitable ionosonde or other measurements are available. The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated by reference to ionosonde data, and the advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed.