Verification of the reciprocal theorem on polar high-frequency radio paths during magnetic disturbances

Аннотация

Two high-latitude high-frequency (HF) paths of oblique-incidence ionospheric sounding were selected: Gor’kovskaya (GRK)–Dixon Island (DIK) and GRK–Lovozero (LOZ).The following propagation parameters were studied: F2MOF and F2MUF for the main signal, F2MOFl for lateral signals, EsMOF for a signal reflected from the sporadic ionospheric layer, and MOFm for the propagation modes of the M (or N) type. Here MOF and MUF are the maximum observed and usable frequencies, respectively. It was found that the reciprocal theorem is satisfied on two radio paths depending on the studied propagation parameter: the path length and location, time of day, and degree of magnetospheric disturbance. It was found that the reciprocal theorem is satisfied in 78, 50, and 30% of cases on the first path for the F2MUF values in the daytime under moderately disturbed conditions, in the morning, and at night, respectively. For the MOFm and moderately disturbed conditions on this path, the reciprocal theorem is satisfied in 40, 35, and 20% of cases in the daytime, morning, and at night, respectively. For the F2MUF values on the second path, reciprocity is satisfied in 73% of cases in the daytime and under moderately disturbed conditions and in 30% of cases at night during a quiet period. On this path, reciprocity is satisfied in 33% of all cases at night under strongly disturbed conditions. An unusual fact was also detected when ionograms of oblique-incidence ionospheric sounding were analyzed: the F2MUF values in the LOZ–GRK direction are almost always slightly (by 1–4%) larger than in the GRK–LOZ direction. A similar difference in the F2MUF values in the forward and backward directions can apparently be explained by the steep horizontal gradient in the electron density distribution from north to south in the reflection region of this path. Such a situation is not observed on the DIK–GRK line.