Nf. Arnold, RADIO LIMB SOUNDING - A TECHNIQUE FOR MEASURING GLOBAL PROFILES OF FREE-ELECTRONS IN THE IONOSPHERE, Journal of atmospheric and terrestrial physics, 58(15), 1996, pp. 1741-1749
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