Abstract
SINCE October 1944 we have carried out investigations of the short duration scatter echoes observable in the neighbourhood of the E region of the ionosphere at frequencies well above the critical frequencies for either the normal or abnormal E layers. The general occurrence of such echoes was first reported by Appleton, Naismith and Ingram1 in their observations during the Polar Year 1932–33. Schafer and Goodall2, who worked in collaboration with Skellett3 in an investigation of meteors as a source of abnormal E region ionization, had also noted them as a specific feature of the Leonid shower of 1931. An adequate reference to subsequent research cannot be given in a brief communication; but the work has for the most part led to the view that the transient ionospheric echoes are caused by meteors (see, for example. Appleton4). Our experiments have led us to confirm that the majority of scatter echoes must be of meteoric origin and are due to reflexions from meteor trains or streaks : these columns of ionized gas, caused by meteoric impact with the molecules of the upper atmosphere, present their maximum echoing areas when viewed at right angles to their length.
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References
Appleton, Naismith and Ingram, Phil. Trans., A, 236, 191 (1937).
Schafer and Goodall, Proc. Inst. Rad. Eng., 20, 1941 (1932).
Skellett, Proc. Inst. Rad. Eng., 20, 1933 (1932).
Appleton, J. Inst. Rad. Eng., 92, 340 (1945).
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HEY, J., STEWART, G. Derivation of Meteor Stream Radiants by Radio Reflexion Methods. Nature 158, 481–482 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/158481a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/158481a0
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