Characteristics of the Sporadic E Layer at Waltair Using the Phase Path Technique

Abstract

The E,-echo phase path records on 5.6 MHz have shown that the bottom surface of the E, was sometimes very sharply bounded. Some evidence showing that the formation of E0 is a highly localized phenomenon has been obtained. The phase path variations of '0' and 'X' components in the F2-region echo during the formation of E, showed that the increase in the ionization in the E, is not totally from a vertical redistribution of the ionization along the ray paths.From spaced phase path records of E, echoes taken during the daylight hours, apparent drift speeds in the range 40-130 m/see with an eastward sense of the east-west components of E8 apparent drifts were observed. This is opposite to the sense of the east-west components of E-region drifts during the daylight hours but is the same as that during the nighttime hours. An attempt is made to interpret these observations.