| The problem of radiowave propagation in the ionosphere in the presence of a wavelike disturbance has been solved in a generalized formulation using the model of a perfectly reflecting surface. The solution obtained has made it possible to develop a remote sensing technique for studying the ionosphere irregular wavelike phenomena, namely, traveling ionospheric disturbances, which are a manifestation of neutral atmosphere phenomena, atmospheric gravity waves. Implementation of this technique in the Digisonde Portable Sounder of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Center for Atmospheric Research allowed development of a dedicated data acquisition system for ionospheric disturbance diagnostics. The experimental validation of the developed method has been obtained by comparison of the results of simultaneous disturbance diagnostics made with the Digisonde Portable Sounder and the Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar. Differences in disturbance parameters measured by the two techniques was no greater than 15%. The link between the atmospheric gravity waves and the moving solar terminator has been experimentally investigated using the Digisonde Portable Sounder and Millstone Hill Incoherent Scatter Radar and evidence of solar terminator generated disturbances has been demonstrated. |
