Scintillation Effects, Mitigations and Recommendations for AFSATCOM and Other Satellite Communications Systems

Signal propagation disturbances, such as scintillations, seriously degrade or disrupt operational performance of AFSATCOM and other satellite communication links. The ionospheric irregularities which cause these disturbances may develop in either a natural or nuclear environment. Natural scintillations correlate with location, time of day, season and solar activity, and are particularly disruptive to airborne (SIOP) communications terminals. The disruptions are expected to peak in the early 1980's, near the crest of the 11 year solar activity cycle. Nuclear detonations can produce a combination of absorption and intense scintillation extending over a CONUS size region for several hours at UHF, and somewhat less at SHF. The report discusses both types of scintillation, noting the analogous equations governing density functions in the two regimes, outlines mitigation strategies, reviews Air Force involvement and offers recommendation for a coordinated and integrated AF effort. The AFCC/1842 EEG mission requirements, to perform system engineering, consultative assistance to MAJCOMs, and collaboration in research and development is reviewed and recommendations are made as to method to meet these requirements. (Author)