Modeling of Decameter Radio-Wave Propagation Under Conditions of a Wave-Like Electron-Density Disturbance

Abstract

We present the results of numerical modeling of decameter radio-wave propagation on a weakly oblique Vasilsursk—Nizhny Novgorod path under conditions of traveling ionospheric disturbances. A comparison is made with the chirp sounding data obtained in winter with an average solar activity. The direction–velocity characteristics of the wave-like disturbances are determined. It is shown that in the daytime, in a quiet magnetic environment, medium-scale wave-like disturbances of the electron density with sizes about 100 km, a period of 15 min, and relative amplitude δ ≈ 0.1 can be responsible for the crescent traces on the ionograms. The wave-like disturbances propagate at a velocity of 110 m/s at the angle β ≈ −45° to the horizon with the wave vector oriented predominantly in the east–west direction.