A Study of Winds in the Ionosphere by Radio Methods

Winds in the ionosphere have been studied by a method described by S. N. Mitra using the fading of radio echoes at spaced receivers. A mean daily wind variation of nearly semidiurnal period and about 40 meters per second amplitude has been observed at a nominal height of 110 km. (Region E). The wind variation is consistent with the explanation that it is due to tidal oscillations of the atmosphere. A wind variation consistent with that expected from lunar atmospheric tides has also been detected at this level.The winds in the F region appear to increase in velocity with an increase of magnetic activity. A similar effect is not observed in the E region except during severe ionospheric disturbances.