A new campaign for oblique-incidence ionospheric sounding over Europe and its data application

New systematic oblique ionospheric radio sounding measurements over Central Europe, concerning the radio links between Inskip (UK, 53.5°N, 2.5°W) and Rome (Italy, 41.8°N, 12.5°E) and between Inskip and Chania (Greece, 35.7°N, 24.0°E), have been performed since November 2003. Different long-term (i.e. monthly median) ionospheric predictions and nowcasting techniques have been applied and compared with the oblique-incidence radio sounding measurements. The MUF (basic maximum usable frequency) measurements observed during the early part of the experiment have been used to compare the performances of different methods. The preliminary analysis has shown good performances for the long-term prediction models, in particular in winter months for ICEPAC (ionospheric communications enhanced profile analysis and circuit) and in equinox/summer months for ASAPS (advanced stand-alone prediction system) and SIRM&LKW (simplified ionospheric regional model & lockwood). The nowcasting methods SIRMUP&LKW (SIRM updating method & lockwood) and ISWIRM (instantaneous space weighted ionospheric regional model) reveal good results for moderate and disturbed geomagnetic conditions when compared with the long-term prediction methods.