Horizontal and Vertical Electron Drifts in the F-Region at Thumba

Abstract

Three spaced aerial fading records of the radio waves reflected from the ionosphere were recorded at Thumba simultaneously on two frequencies during evening and early night hours of the summer of 1968. Using the correlation of fadings on the same frequency at three aerials, horizontal drifts were calculated. At the same time vertical drifts could be estimated using two closely spaced frequencies received on the same aerial. Horizontal drifts towards west were found to be associated with vertical drift being upward, while the eastward horizontal drifts were associated with downward vertical drift. The vertical drifts were found to be of the order of 17 m/sec.