Radio wave propagation for communication and probing the ionosphere

Abstract

Radio signals used in modern communication, navigation and radar systems are impacted by refraction, absorption, diffraction and scattering caused by the ionospheric plasma. Ionospheric ionization structure, composition and dynamics, i.e. also radio wave propagation, may seriously be affected by space weather effects. Ionospheric delay is the largest error source for single-frequency GNSS. Ionospheric storms and related effects such as particle precipitation and TEC gradients may cause problems in precise and SoL applications. Modelling, monitoring and forecasting of ionospheric behaviour contributes essentially to mitigate ionospheric impact on GNSS. Better understanding of ionospheric processes and their coupling is required for further improving mitigation techniques and forecasts.