The application of numerical simulations in Beacon scintillation analysis and modeling

Abstract

Modeling Beacon satellite scintillation data presents a number of challenges. The dominant ionospheric structure is anisotropic, and it evolves nonuniformly. Moreover, the length and the orientation of the propagation path that intercepts the structure vary continuously. Thus, even under ideal observing conditions, it is difficult to extract unambiguous driving-point conditions from single-receiver or multireceiver observations. Statistical models are invariably used to interpret scintillation measurements, but the statistical models themselves require a high degree of statistical uniformity that applies only to segments of the data. These challenges are well known, but evolving computer capabilities have provided new opportunities. Modern computer resources support high-fidelity simulations that capture the three-dimensional propagation phenomena in representative propagation environments. Because all aspects of such simulations are known or measurable, one can validate theoretical assumptions and the effectiveness of various analysis procedures. This paper reviews the theory and illustrates the numerical simulation it supports. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union.