RADIO LIMB SOUNDING - A TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING GLOBAL PROFILES OF FREE-ELECTRONS IN THE IONOSPHERE

A technique is proposed to measure the electron density profile of the ionosphere between 100 and 800 km using a microwave frequency receive r on board a conventional Earth Observations Satellite and a series of transmitters on micro satellites in appropriate orbits. A pair of pul sed frequencies will enable the relative signal delay to be determined and hence the total electron content between the two devices. The ver tical profiles of N-e along the satellite track can be retrieved using a modified form of tomography. Regular global coverage from a single experiment over several years would provide a unique data set for comp arison with models of the ionosphere, and also its interaction with th e neutral atmosphere and its response to changes in solar activity. Co pyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd