SYNTHESIS OF OBLIQUE IONOGRAMS FROM VERTICAL IONOGRAMS USING QUASI-PARABOLIC SEGMENT MODELS OF THE IONOSPHERE

This paper describes a method of synthesizing oblique ionograms from v ertical ionograms based on representing the ionosphere by multiple qua si-parabolic segments (QPS). The advantage of this approach is that it allows analytical solutions to be obtained for several ray parameters when the Earth's magnetic field is neglected and the ionosphere is sp herically stratified. The no-field results are representative of the o rdinary mode. In addition, results for the extraordinary mode can be o btained by introducing a perturbation to the effective frequency and m odifying the no-field results. The method is illustrated by comparing synthesized oblique ionograms with observed ionograms and with results obtained for the ordinary mode using the classical method.