IONOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND PROPAGATION STUDIES

The new log-periodic feed for 300 to 2000 mc was placed in operation for a limited period. Moon reflected signals at 150.6 mc, cw, have been received during 37 days of the quarter, usually for periods of eight hours or longer. The data for the rotation of the angle of polarization have been read out and plotted. From the plots Burkard's theory has been applied in an attempt to resolve the ambiguity, using the premise that theANGULAR AMBIGUITY EXISTS IN MULTIPLES OF 180 DEGREES. Limited success has been achieved by the method. The relative total electron content of the ionosphere has been calculated for all of the days for which observations were made. Composite plots for the three observation periods of two to three weeks have been made. Further study of the electron content data is needed in order to resolve the ambiguity, possibly making use of satellite data, and to correlate the data with solar flares, magnetic storms, and possibly other natural phenomena. A method of resolving the ambiguity with two frequencies, say 150.6 mc and 153.6 mc, is proposed. (Author)