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A HISTORY OF VERTICAL - INCIDENCE

IONOSPHERE SOUNDING AT THE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

BY SANFORD C. GLADDEN

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS
IE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

Functions and Activities

The Functions of the National Bureau of Standards are set forth in the Act of Congress, March

3, 1901, as amended by Congress in Public Law 619, 1950. These include the development and

maintenance of the national standards of measurement and the provision of means and methods for making measurements consistent with these standards: the determination of physical constants and

properties of materials: the development of methods and instruments for testing materials, devices,

and structures; advisory services to government agencies on scientific and technical problems; in- vention and development of devices to serve special needs of the Government; and the development

of standard practices, codes, and specifications. The work includes basic and applied research,

development, engineering, instrumentation, testing, evaluation, calibration services, and various

consultation and information services. Research projects are also performed for other government

agencies when the work relates to and supplements the basic program of the Bureau or when the Bureau's unique competence is required. The scope of activities is suggested by the listing of

divisions and sections on the inside of the back cover.

Publications

The results of the Bureau's work take the form of either actual equipment and devices or published papers. These papers appear either in the Bureau's own series of publications or in the journals

of professional and scientific societies. The Bureau itself publishes three periodicals available from

the Government Printing Office: The Journal of Research, published in four separate sections,

presents complete scientific and technical papers; the Technical News Bulletin presents summarv

and preliminary reports on work in progress; and Basic Radio Propagation Predictions provides

data for determining the best frequencies to use for radio communications throughout the world.

There are also five series of nonperiodical publications: Monographs, Applied Mathematics Series,

Handbooks, Miscellaneous Publications, and Technical Notes. Information on the Bureau's publications can be found in NBS Circular 460, Publications of the

National Bureau of Standards (SI.25) and its Supplement ($1.50), available from the Superintendent

of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D.C.
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

technical ^iote

No. 28

A HISTORY OF VERTICAL- INCIDENCE IONOSPHERE SOUNDING

AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

by

Sanford C. Gladden

Central Radio Propagation Laboratory

September 1959

NBS Technical Notes are designed to supplement the Bureau's regular publications program. They provide a means for making available scientific data that are of transient or limited interest. Technical Notes may be

listed or referred to in the open literature. They are for sale by the Office of Technical Services, U. S. Department of Commerce, Washington 25, D. C.

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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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Price $2,00
National Bureau of Standards OCT 3 1960

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Preface

This is an attempt to treat in chronological order the development of vertical incidence ionosphere sounding at the National Bureau

of Standards through 1957- Of necessity many phases of the radio work

of the Bureau have been omitted or treated lightly as not being germane

to the principal purpose of this history. With the exception of early

workers in the field, names of individuals are to be found only in the

references

.

Source material includes the monthly, quarterly, and annual

reports of Section 6, Division 1 (the old Radio Section), and of the

Central Radio Propagation Laboratory; reports of the Interservice Radio

Propagation Laboratory; the declassified reports of the International

Radio Propagation Conference; the Bureau of Standards Journal of

Research; the NBS Technical News Bulletin; published and unpublished

reports of NBS; periodical literature, such as the Proceedings of the

Institute of Radio Engineers, the Physical Review, Nature, Journal of

Geophysical Research (formerly Terrestrial Magnetism and Atmospheric

Electricity), and Science.

Times of service of NBS personnel in charge of field stations

have been verified through station correspondence as well as in many

instances by personal contact with the individuals concerned.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington,

for the photographs of the equipment used by Breit and Tuve,

photographs of the records obtained with this equipment, and

details of operation of the manual and automatic sounding

equipment developed by the organization.

U. S. Army Signal Radio Propagation Agency, for the photographs of its

field stations and details of their early operation.

Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska, for photographs of

its field station and the DTM automatic ionosonde. The

Department of Terrestrial Magnetism also furnished a photograph

of the same ionosonde.

Father J. J. Hennessey, S. J., of the Manila Observatory, for the photograph of the Baguio field station.

A. A. Giesecke, of the Geophysical Institute of Huancayo, for photographs of the Huancayo and Talara field stations.

Dr. Jorgen Rybner, of the Danish URSI Committee, for the photograph of

the Godhavn field station.

S. Thorkelsson, of the Icelandic Post and Telegraph Administration, for

the photograph of the Reykjavik field station.

T. R. Gilliland, present field station engineer for NBS, for the photographs of the first two ionograms made with the initial automatic multifrequency ionosonde of NBS, as well as much information concerning the early work at NBS.

Dr. R. A. Helliwell, of the Radio Propagation Laboratory, Stanford

University, for the photograph of the Stanford field station.

At the Boulder Laboratories, NBS

H. G. Sellery, in charge of the Field Operations Group, for making the

station correspondence available for study.

E. L. Kilpatrick, for the photographs of the ionograms made with the

low- frequency ionosonde.

A. H. Shapley, Chief, Sun-Earth Relationships Section, R. W. Knecht,

and T. E. Van Zandt for critical evaluation of the text

material.

W. B. Chadwick and S. M. Ostrow, Regular Propagation Services Section,

for reading the rough draft of the text.

111
INDEX

Page

I. Historical summary to 1927 1

II. Early work at the National Bureau of Standards (I929- 1946)

1. Measurements of virtual height at fixed frequencies 4

2. Early NBS ionosondes 12

III. The Interservice Radio Propagation Laboratory (1942-1946)

1. Organization and functions 12

2. The International Radio Propagation Conference (1944) —

18

3. Types of ionosondes used by stations

affiliated with IRPL - 18

IV. Development of practical applications.

1. Determination of maximum usable frequencies 20

2. Sudden ionosphere disturbances 22

3- Predictions of ionospheric phenomena------—----------

22

a. Prediction of critical frequencies 22

b. The longitude effect 24

c. Forecasting of ionospheric storms------------------- 24

d. MUF over long paths —

25

V. The Central Radio Propagation Laboratory (since 1946)

1. Organization and functions 25

2. Development of the CRPL Model C ionosondes 28

3. Antenna testing and design -_______- --____-__—-__ 29

4. Ionospheric field stations operated by

or associated with NBS 31

5. Reduction of ionospheric data 32

6. Data inspection — 43

7- Improvement and extension of prediction methods —

44

8. Radio warning services — 45

9- Vertical sounding at low frequencies 46

10. Ionospheric research —-_ —__-_-_--____-_ 47

VI. International programs of ionospheric research

1. The Second International Polar Year-- 48

2. CRPL and the International Geophysical Year 49

a. The general program 49

b. World Warning Agency- —_ --_ 50

c. World Data Centers —— 51

d. Data processing 52

IV
APPENDICES

I. Early NBS lonosondes

Page

1. First NBS automatic mu It i frequency ionosonde 53

2. Model A ionosonde 55

3- Model B ionosonde —- 58

II. Type of ionosondes used by stations affiliated with IRPL

a. Types developed by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism

of the Carnegie Institution of Washington --- — 59

1. Automatic multi frequency equipment----- 59

2. Manual ionosphere recorder Model 1 59

3- Manual ionosphere recorder, modified Model 1 ------- 6l

k* Manual ionosphere recorder Model 3 --— — 6l

b. British frequency modulation Type 2^9 Sk

c. Australian automatic multifrequency ionosonde (Model

Mark V) 66

d. Ionosondes developed by various laboratories associated

with NBS 68

1. Harvard University ——- —--------—

68

2. Leland Stanford University 68

3. Louisiana State University 73

k. Signal Corps Type AN/CPQ-T (XE-l) 73

III. Development of the CRPL Model C ionosondes

1. Model C-l - 76

2. Model C-2 76

3. Model C-3 -- 81

k. Model C-k - 83

IV. Details of operation of field stations ---------—- ——-—

85

V. Summary of information regarding stations established before

1957 - HI

VI. Summary of information regarding stations established in 1957

and I958 - 116
VII. References

Page

1. Section I --- - 118

2. Section II - — 119

3. Section III - 121

k. Section IV 123

5. Section V 125

6. Section VI 133

vi
A HISTORY OF VERTICAL- INCIDENCE IONOSPHERE SOUNDING

AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

I. Historical summary to 1927 «

In 1901, Marconi succeeded in transmitting radio signals from

England to Newfoundland. As a consequence, considerable discussion

arose regarding the mode of propagation of radio waves around the cur- vature of the earth. Many scientists supposed the mechanism was diffraction, in a manner similar to the behavior of other types of electromagnetic waves, but it was soon revealed that the phenomenon could not

be explained by diffraction alone.

In 1902 Kennelly in America, and Heaviside in England a few

months later independently proposed the existence of an ionized upper

region in the atmosphere which would deflect the radio waves and cause

them to follow the curvature of the earth. In his paper Kennelly used

the expression "electrically conducting strata", indicating that he had

in mind several layers.

Some years later Lorentz stated the theory of propagation of

light waves through a system of molecules. In 1912 this theory was applied to radio propagation in the ionized region by Eccles, and by

Larmor inl924. In these two papers two layers, one a high permanently

ionized layer, and the other a lower layer ionized daily by sunlight,

were required to explain the phenomena then observed.

Additional theoretical support for the idea of ionized layer

transmission was given by Watson in two papers published in I9I8 and

1919« In the first paper the author showed that the observed facts

concerning the rate of decay of field strength of electric waves transmitted over a large sheet of water were not adequately accounted for by

a theory of pure diffraction. He found, however, that the ionization

theory which results in the upper regions of the atmosphere acting as

a reflector of electric waves of great wavelength did adequately account

for these facts, and the results of the paper tended to confirm the

existence of the Heaviside layer, as Eccles called it. One should bear

in mind that at the time of Watso^ radio communication was carried on by

considerably lower frequencies (longer wavelengths) than is now common.

It was not until 1925 that direct evidence of the existence

of a reflecting upper layer was obtained. In that year Appleton and

Barnett employed two methods by which the apparent height of the layer

was found. In one method a transmitter frequency was continuously

changed through a small range and the interference maxima noted at a
- 2 - distant receiving station. In the other, the angle of arrival of the

signal for different angles of incidence was studied. For both experiments, a transmitter frequency of about 750 kc was used. The estimated

apparent height of the layer was found to be about 80 km.

Later in 1925 Breit and Tuve of the Department of Terrestrial

Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington (hereafter abbreviated as DTM) independently reported similar evidence using the pulse or group retardation method developed by them. Short trains of waves lasting about 1/1000 sec were emitted by two transmitters operating on kOk^

and 865O kc at the Naval Research Laboratory, Bellevue, D. C. The pulses

for either frequency were received by a string-type galvanometer. As a result of their work, Breit and Tuve reported layer heights of from 90

to 225 km. They also observed that the reflections varied rapidly both

in amplitude and position.

The year 1925 also saw another important contribution.

Appleton in England, and Nichols and Schelleng in America, independently

pointed out that radio wave refraction and absorption in the ionized

regions would be considerably modified by the earth's magnetic field.

Nichols and Schelleng showed that in the simple cases in which a radio

wave is propagated parallel or perpendicular to the earth's magnetic

field, it would be split into two components by magnetic double refraction and, in general, one of these components would be more highly

absorbed than the other.

In 1927 Breit showed quantitatively the effect of the earth's

magnetic field on a ray propagated in any direction with respect to the

terrestrial magnetic field. A few months later Appleton independently

solved the same problem and gave an equation for the refractive index.

It was not until about 1932 that the term "ionosphere" was introduced by Watson-Watt of England to designate all the ionized

region of the earth's atmosphere. This region had previously been called

the Kennel ly-Heaviside Layer, after the two pioneers.
- 3

-

Figure 1

The original equipment used by Breit and Tuve for measurement

of virtual heights of the ionosphere

(Photograph supplied through courtesy of DTM, CIW)

mmmm

Figure 2

The type of record made by Breit and Tuve using pulse signals from

the Naval Research Laboratory transmitter, WKF. The distance

between the successive pips was a measure of the layer height.

(Photograph supplied through courtesy of DTM, CIW)
- k - II. Early work at the National Bureau of Standards (1929-19^-6)

1. Measurements of virtual height at fixed frequencies

The true height of an ionospheric layer is not directly

determined by sounding techniques, since the radio wave is retarded

on entering and leaving the ionosphere. Consequently heights so observed are termed virtual heights.

While scattered observations of the virtual height of

ionospheric layers were made by the National Bureau of Standards

during 1929, the first serious work in this field began in January

1930. T. R. Gilliland, still in ionospheric soundings work in 1957

was the pioneer for NBS.

In 1929 there had been some consideration given toward

adapting the Bureau standard- frequency transmitting station WWV for

transmitting signals for echo studies. This plan was discarded in

favor of using pulse signals from the Naval Research Laboratory

station, NKF.

The method used was essentially that of Breit and Tuve. It

consisted of the receiving and oscillographic recording of signals

from a transmitter emitting pulses of extremely short duration, with

sufficient intervals of no emission between pulses to record the

echoes. The time interval (At) between the arrival of the ground wave

and the first echo was used to calculate the virtual height, after the

method of Kenrick and Jen. The virtual height (h 1 ) is defined by the

relation £^~ , where c is the velocity of electromagnetic waves in

free space.

The transmissions were furnished through the cooperation

of the Naval Research Laboratory at Bellevue, D. C. Two 20-kw crystalcontrolled transmitters were used, one operating on kOk-5 kc and the other

on 865O kc, each being modulated by an unbalanced multivibrator circuit.

The oscillographic film records were spot shots, each of about a second

in length showing the individual pulses. The receiver-recorder was the

Bureau of Standards field station, one mile south of Kensington, Maryland, a distance of 21 km (13 miles) from the NRL transmitter, NKF.

Transmissions were made each week on Mondays and Thursdays.

k0k5 kc signals were transmitted from 11:15 to 11:30 A.M., and from

4:00 to 4:15 P.M. On a few occasions, the transmissions were continued

until midnight. In addition, transmissions on 1410 kc from Station

WLEX, Lexington, Massachusetts, were received at the NBS field station

at Kensington. The Naval Research Laboratory signals as well as those

from Lexington were also received and studied at Tufts College near

Boston.
5 -

Figure 3

Bureau of Standards field station near Kensington, Maryland

Figure k

The first arrangement of apparatus at the NBS Kensington, Maryland

field station. Left to right are shown the receiving set,

amplifier and oscillograph.
- 6 -

Figure 5

Kensington field station interior. Oscillograph at right,

pulse signal receiving equipment in center, communications

receiver and laboratory oscillator at left.

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Typical 1410 ko pattern as received at isn3iagton, 3d.. during night period, (3:33 A.U., April 13, 1930). Note

small peak, large peai, and then series of snail peaks.

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1410 kc as reoeived at Tufts Collet at 3:15 A.::. S.3.T. May 13, 1930. Note extrenely ooaplex da»n patterns. '

Figure 6

Typical records obtained at the MBS field station, Kensington,

Maryland, and also as received at Tufts College, Boston
- 7

-

The transmissions from NKF for use by NBS started January 13

and ceased the middle of June 1930, when the transmitters were dismantled. The results of the observations furnished considerable evidence for the existence of several layers. Support was thus given to

the picture of Appleton and Eckersley of several rather definite strata

in the ionosphere..

In order that the echo signal work could proceed after the

closing down of the NKF transmitters, a pulse transmitter was set up by

the Bureau at Potomac Ydrds, just north of Alexandria, Virginia, and

oscillographic measurements were made of the received pulses at the

Kensington field station. These were manual step-by-step measurements.

The transmitter had about 500 Watts output and a frequency range of

from 1.0 to 10 or 12 Mc. This probably marked the beginning of the

regular 1-day-a-week series of observations lasting from before sunrise

to abbut sunset one week and from 9 A.M. until midnight for alternate

weeks. In the course bf the work, observations were made on 10 frequencies from 590 to 10,000 kc. Most of the work was done on ^0^5 kc, since

reflections were obtained more consistently on this frequency.

The difficulty with the method used to record the pulse was that each oscillogram taken gave the virtual height only over a short

period. In order to obtain a clear idea of the variation of the layer

height over an appreciable time interval, it was necessary for the

observer to remain at the apparatus and take frequent oscillograms,

each of which gave him but one point on the desired curve of virtual

height as a function of time. In order that the pulses be separated

sufficiently for accurate measurement, it was necessary to use film

speeds of the order of 10 ft/sec, so that several hundred feet of film

were required for a 24-hour run.

In 1931 i therefore, the equipment was modified so that a con- tinuous record of the virtual height could be made. The recorder used

in 1930 was changed, so that in place of a vibrating- string oscilloscope

a mirror was used which rotated in synchronism with the interrupter used

to key the transmitter. In this manner a pattern was obtained which

could be viewed on a screen in the manner customarily employed for viewing recurring phenomena with an oscilloscope.

The installation employed a transmitter of about 2^0 watts

peak power operating on 40^-5 kc, with the interrupter connected in the

grid circuit of the first amplifier. The transmitter was first used at

the Kensington field station and the receiver at the old Radio Building

of NBS, about five miles from the transmitter. At the recording point

a receiving set of the double detection type was used, with the output

of the second detector feeding Into one stage of d.c. amplification

which operated the oscilloscope.
- 8 -

Figure 7

Potomac Yards, field station. Pulse signal transmitter is shown

left of center. Left foreground shows reels for variable length antenna,

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Figure 8

Continuous automatic records of the virtual height

of the ionosphere on ^-100 kc «,
- 9

- In order to eliminate difficulty encountered from interference coming in over the power lines, the interrupter and rotating mirror

were geared to the synchronous motors by an odd gear ratio, namely 127

to 64, so that any disturbance patterns occurring at power frequency

would not remain stationary and thus give spurious traces on the film.

35-mm film was used, driven through a system of gears by the same synchronous motor used for driving the rotating mirror. A film speed of

2.5 ft per 2k hours was used.

In August 1932 preparations were made for layer height measurements during the solar eclipse of August 31* A simple oscillator of

150 watts output was tried out as a pulse transmitter on 4-200 kc and

found to work satisfactorily. Four such transmitters were built, two

being taken on the NBS eclipse expedition to Sydney, Nova Scotia and

two being used at Beltsville to supplement the transmissions from the

old transmitter. One of these transmitters was set up at the Kensington

field station adjacent to the receivers and satisfactory pulse records

were obtained. A doublet antenna was used for transmitting and an inverted L antenna for receiving.

In November 1932, the automatic height recorder was moved

from Kensington to the field site at Beltsville. Other ionospheric

equipment was moved about the same time from Kensington to Meadows,

Maryland.

In March 1933» a pulse transmitter was completed and installed

at Beltsville. The frequency range of the set was found to be from

1750 to 25,000 kc with all tubes in. By removing one power amplifier,

the set could be made to operate up to 28,000 kc. The output was found

to be 2 kw up to 10,000 kc with a decrease in output for higher frequencies. Manual step-by-step measurements were made at Meadows, Maryland.

Regular observations were made one day a week, supplemented by special

measurements at other times. Transmissions were made without reference

to the hour, with the frequency being changed until the extraordinary

critical frequency of the F2 layer was passed. Then the recording

observer at Meadows would telephone the operator at Beltsville and

another sweep would start.

In September 1933> condensers were added in parallel with the

tuned stages of the pulse transmitter at Beltsville so that it would

operate on frequencies as low as 1600 kc.

In September 1933? also, shop work was begun on a pulse transmitter capable of covering the broadcast frequency band and also over- lapping the low frequency end of the high-frequency transmitter previously installed at Beltsville in March. The transmitter was completed

in October 1934 and was installed at Meadows, Maryland. It initially

had a frequency range of 500 to 2500 kc, but went through a number of

changes, finally evolving into the Model B ionosonde which was destroyed

by fire at Sterling, Virginia in January 194-7.
- 10 -

Figure 9

Building at Beltsville field station which housed the automatic

equipment for ionosphere height measurements.

Figure 10

The 1-kw transmitter used at the NBS field station at Beltsville

Maryland (1750-25000 kc

)
- 11 -

Figure 11

The broadcast band transmitter at the NBS Meadows, Maryland

field station (500-2500 kc)
- 12 -

2. Early NBS Ionosondes

In 1933, the ionosonde used for fixed- frequency automatic

height recording on 4100 kc was modified to cover the frequency range

from 2.5 to h.k Mc continuously. The records were made on sensitized

photographic paper four inches wide. This was the first sweep-frequency sounder to be used by NBS

.

In 19^0, a new type of ionosonde was designed and put into

use by NBS. It consisted of a pulsed transmitter (operating over the

frequency range O.79 to lk Mc) linked to a receiver by a beat- frequency

system. The output of a variable-frequency oscillator was mixed with

the output of an oscillator operating at the intermediate frequency of

the receiver. The difference of these two frequencies was selected

and amplified in the transmitter. Signals to be received were mixed

with the output of the variable oscillator, the frequency difference

then being the receiver intermediate frequency which was amplified

and detected in the usual manner. The records were made on 35 mm

film. Until the first quarter of 19^-6, this ionosonde was designated

as the portable ionosphere recorder. At that time it received the

new designation of the CRPL Model A ionosphere recorder. The present

procedure is to call all such devices ionosondes rather than recorders.

Also in 19^-6 the ionosonde originally installed at Meadows,

Maryland, with a frequency range of 500 to 2500 kc was designated

as the Model B ionosphere recorder. By this time the ionosonde had

been modified to cover the frequency range from 0-75 to 16 Mc in

five bands. Photographic paper was used for making the records. This

ionosonde was destroyed by fire in the latter part of January 19^-7 •

Details of operation of the first sweep- frequency ionosonde,

the Model A and the Model B ionosondes, are to be found in Appendix I.

III. The Interservice Radio Propagation Laboratory (19^2-1946)

1. Organization and functions

In I9UI an aircraft disaster in the European Theater led

to the formation of the British Interservice Ionosphere Bureau (ISIB),

and the critical requirements of air force operation in the Southwest

Pacific resulted in the establishment of the Australian Radio Propagation Committee (ARPC), the purposes of both being to furnish radio

propagation data and predictions to their respective military services.

Similarly in 19^2 the Interservice Radio Propagation Laboratory (IRPL) was established in the National Bureau of Standards by order of the

U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, acting through the Wave Propagation Committee

of the U.S. Joint Communications Board.
- 13

Figure 12

Prototype of Model B ionosphere recorder as used at NBS

field station at Meadows _, Maryland

Figure 13

Final form of Model B ionosphere recorder as used at

NBS field station near Sterling, Va.
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- 16 -

Personnel of IRPL consisted essentially of the staff of the

Radio Section of the Bureau (Division 1, Section 6), and were under

the general supervision of J . H. Dellinger and Newberh Smith. The

IRPL was to operate as the United States centralizing group for ionospheric and radio propagation data taken all over the world.

The functions of IRPL were to: (l) Centralize data on

radio propagation and related effects, from all available sources;

(2) Keep continuous world-wide records of ionosphere characteristics

and related solar, geophysical and cosmic data; (3) Prepare the

resulting information and furnish it to the Allied Military Services.

Associated directly with the IRPL besides the NBS field

station at Washington, D. C. were laboratories at Stanford University,

California; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana;

University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Harvard University

and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Except for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, all

these stations made routine soundings of the ionosphere.

Valuable help was received from the Department of Terrestrial

Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, which maintained

observatories at College, Alaska; Huancayo, Peru; Maui, Hawaii, T.H.;

Clyde, Baffin Island; Reykjavik, Iceland; Trinidad, British West

Indies; and Watheroo, Western Australia. In addition, DTM, CIW

centralized solar and magnetic data.

Ionospheric and radio propagation data were eventually

collected by the National Bureau of Standards from about 50 stations

operated by the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New

Zealand and the U.S.S.R. These data were published each month in

the IRPL-F series of reports, starting in September, 19^4 and stopping

with the June 19^6 issue (IRPL-F22). Thereafter the CRPL-F series

continued the task of circulating the information.

At the outset of World War II, ionospheric observations

were available to the Allied powers only at seven locations in the

world: Washington, D. C; University of Alaska; Slough, England;

Huancayo, Peru; Watheroo and Canberra, Australia; and Christchurch,

New Zealand. By the end of World War II, hk stations were regularly

reporting ionospheric observations to IRPL.

Of the original field stations, three were equipped with

the automatic multifrequency pulse type ionosonde developed by DTM,

namely Huancayo (installed in I937 ), Watheroo (installed in I938),

and University of Alaska (installed in 19^1). The stations at

Huancayo and the University of Alaska later became associated with the

Central Radio Propagation Laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards

(CRPL).
- 17 -

In the early part of 19^3 > four automatic multifrequency

ionosondes of the frequency modulation type developed by the National

Physical Laboratory (British Type 2^9) were allocated to DTM by

the British Admiralty. After several major changes were incorporated

by DTM, these ionosondes were installed in l^kk at Clyde, Baffin Island;

Reykjavik, Iceland; Trinidad, British West indies; and Maui, Hawaii, T.H.

In 19^+3 also, DTM developed a manual type of ionosonde, one

of the early models being used at Maui to supplement the BAD Type 2^9-

Three ionosondes of this model were modified at the Kensington Laboratory of DTM to incorporate a 12- inch cathode-ray tube instead of the

3-inch tube normally used.

These modified ionosondes were used at Guam, Okinawa and

Maui, and for a short time at Leyte.

In 19^5, the DTM Model 3 manual multifrequency ionosonde

was constructed by DTM and used at Trinidad, Maui and Adak.

Besides these stations operating under the sponsorship of

DTM, a number of institutions in the United States began ionospheric

measurements. Among these might be mentioned the University of Puerto

Rico (19^1); Leland Stanford University (19^2); Louisana State University (19*K3); and Harvard University (19^5). All of these developed

their own design of ionosonde. It was not until 19^9> when the CRPL

Model C-2 ionosonde became available, that standardization of U.S.

sounding equipment took place, with the C-2, and later the C-3,

replacing the various types of manual and automatic ionosondes.

Thus by 19^4 there were operating as U.S. controlled or associated stations some dozen more than when IRPL was established.

Most of these were later associated with CRPL. In addition the other

stations established by Canada, Great Britain, Australia and the USSR

channeled their ionospheric data into IRPL for use on a world-wide

basis. The prediction of radio propagation conditions was aided

greatly by this large amount of data.

During the war the IRPL performed many specific services

for the armed forces and commercial companies doing war work, involving

consultation and advice on their special problems involving radio propagation. Types of problems included the determination of best usable

frequencies for specific services, such as point-to-point, short-distance

tactical operations, plane- to- ground, high frequency broadcast, the prediction of ground-wave and sky-wave distances under different conditions,

advice as to types of antennas and lowest radiated power for specific

purposes, and frequency allocation.
- 18 -

2. The International Radio Propagation Conference

In the spring of 19^> a series of meetings were held,

first in England, and during April and May at the National Bureau

of Standards in Washington, D. C, the purposes of which were to

clarify and implement the existing information and procedures relating

to radio communication problems.

Attending the meetings were representatives of the IRPL, DTM,

ISIB, and ARPC as well as members of the armed services of the United

States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Among the topics considered were: Operational requirements

of the armed services; characteristics of ionospheric observing

systems; reduction of ionospheric records; inter- laboratory reporting

of ionosphere data; general considerations in the interpretation of

ionosphere data; characteristics of absorption measuring systems; re- duction of field- intensity data; radio traffic records; and radio

disturbance forecasting.

It was during the IRPC that the first set of international

definitions of symbols and terminology for ionospheric use was provided. It was decided by the Conference that the transmission curves developed at NBS were to be used by all laboratories, and that standard

time rather than local time be used for reporting data. During the

series of meetings at NBS it was also decided that the location of

the various observatories should be designated, in general, by the

name of the nearest well known place, rather than by the exact

location. (IRPL-C50, 1 May I9IA).

3- Types of ionosondes used by stations affifiated with CRPL

a. Types developed by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the

Carnegie Institution of Washington

(1) Automatic multifrequency equipment

This was a pulse- type ionosonde developed about 1936. It

had a frequency range of from 16.0 to O.5I6 Mc in six bands. Photosensitized paper 12 cm wide was used to record the sweeps.

Photographs and details of operation of this and other

ionosondes used by stations affiliated with IRPL are to be found in

Appendix II.

(2) Manual ionosphere recorder Model 1

This was an ionosonde developed by DTM in 19^3 to implement

the expanded U.S. program of ionospheric research as a result of the

establishment of IRPL. The transmitter was a separate unit from the

receiver.
- 19 - Manual sweeps were made through a frequency range of

1.2 to 13.2 Mc in four bands, and the information thus obtained

plotted on special graph paper. From 3 to 15 minutes was required

to plot the information for one sweep, depending on the complexity

of reflections.

(3) Manual ionosphere recorder modified Model 1

In 19^5 > three Model 1 manual recorders were modified to use a 12-inch cathode-ray tube in place of the original 3

- incn

tube. Sometimes this recorder was designated as the DTM Model 2.

(k) Manual ionospere recorder Model 3

This ionosonde differed from the Model 1 in that five

frequency bands were used, and the top frequency was about 20 Mc

as compared to 13-2 Mc for the Model 1. It was first placed in

use the latter part of 19^5*

b. British frequency-modulation Type 2^9

This comprised a continuous-wave transmitter, the frequency of which was repeatedly varied over the approximate range

of 2 to 16 Mc at a rate of 25 times per second. A wide band- pass

filter was incorporated in the output circuit of the transmitter,

in order to limit the radiation to a band covering the frequency

to which the receiver was tuned. The receiver tuning was varied

over the whole band from 2 to 16 Mc in about one minute.

The frequency-modulation method was inefficient as com- pared to pulse methods, since the transmitter had to operate

continuously and only a portion of the total received energy was utilized by the receiver. In addition the effective pulse width

was in general not constant, since the rate of change of the

transmitter frequency was not maintained at a uniform level over

the frequency range. As a result, the height resolution of the

equipment varied over the frequency band employed.

Four of these ionosondes were allocated by the British

Admiralty to DTM in 19^-3 > which modified them before placing them

in use.

c. Australian Model Mark V automatic multifrequency ionosonde

This was a pulse- type sounder designed and built about

19^5 by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research

Organization of Australia for the Australian Radio-Wave Propagation

Committee at the Radio Physics Laboratory, University of Sydney.
- 20 -

It had a frequency range of 1.0 to I3.O Mc in four bands.

The records were made on 35 -mm film.

d. Ionosondes developed by various laboratories associated with NBS:

(1) Harvard University -- This was a pulse-type sounder

developed about 19^5 having a frequency range of from 0.79 "to lU-.O Mc

in four bands. Photosensitized paper three inches wide was used for

recording the sweeps.

(2) Leland Stanford University — This was a pulse-type

sounder developed about 19^6 with a frequency range of about 1.3 to

18.0 Mc in three bands. Photographic paper 3-5/8 inches wide was

used for the records.

(3) Louisiana State University — This ionosonde, developed about 19^-6, had a frequency range of from 2.62 to 15.68 Mc in

three bands, the time for one frequency sweep being 10 minutes.

Sensitized photographic paper, four inches wide, was used to record

the sweeps.

(k) University of Puerto Rico — This ionosonde had a frequency range of from 3 to 12 Mc and used 35-mm sensitized paper

for recording the sweep. It used a mechanically driven mirror and

a gas discharge tube. The time of a sweep was 11 minutes. This

ionosonde was placed in service during the summer of 19^-5 • Photographs either of the ionosonde or of the records were not available.

(5) U. S. Signal Corps Type AN/CPQ-T (XE-l ) — This

ionosonde was a multifrequency pulse-type, with a frequency range of

1 to 2k Mc. The time for one frequency sweep was one minute, and

sensitized photographic paper was used to record the sweep. It was placed in service in the winter of 19^9*

IV. Development of Practical Applications

1. Determination of maximum usable frequencies.

In high-frequency radio transmission there is, for any fixed

distance of transmission, an upper limit of frequency which can be transmitted. The existence of this upper-limit frequency depends

on the fact that the ionization in the atmosphere will reflect only

waves of frequencies less than a certain critical value, which is

called the maximum usable frequency (MUF).

The maximum usable frequency for high-frequency transmission

via the ionosphere over any given path at any instant is an important

quantity. If the operating frequency is above the maximum usable
- 21 - frequency the wave skips, since it will then not be reflected so as to

reach the desired reception point. As the operating frequency is

decreased below the maximum usable frequency in the daytime, it becomes

increasingly attenuated. Hence it is desirable for transmission to occur on a frequency as near to the maximum usable frequency over the

path as is feasible under prevailing conditions. For this reason a technique of prediction whereby the proper operating frequency may be

chosen with regard to the maximum usable frequency is highly desirable.

In an ionized layer there exists a maximum usable frequency

for reflection at oblique incidence which corresponds to the critical

frequency at vertical incidence. This was determined by Smith, Kirby

and Gilliland of NBS in 1936. In May of the next year, the basic idea

for the application of this to the determination of MUFs from vertical

incidence critical frequencies was described by Smith. The procedure

involved the "secant law". This law states that the frequency which

will be reflected from a plane ionosphere at a given height at oblique

incidence is equal to the product of the secant of the angle of incidence ($) and the critical frequency which will just be reflected at

vertical incidence at the same true height.

In 1938 the method was expanded to include the effects of the

earth's curvature and the earth's magnetic field, as well as absorption

or reflection from lower layers.

In practice, a coordinate scale, coinciding with that on which the ionograms are made, is used to plot a family of curves of

virtual height against maximum usable frequency, where the MUF is

obtained from the secant law for values of sec$ corresponding to different values of the virtual height for a fixed distance. These graphs,

known as "transmission curves", are made parametric in the MUF. A

transparent overlay is made to scale with this family of transmission

curves drawn on it. If the overlay is then placed on the ionogram, the

intersections of the curves with the h'f trace will give, for the fixed

distance, values of the MUF reflected at the oblique incidence from the

virtual heights of the intersection. At first the fixed distance was

chosen as 3500 km, but in the early 19^0' s the distances of 1500 and

3000 were used.

With a few modifications, this method of determining MUFs

from vertical- incidence soundings is still employed by CRFL field stations and associated laboratories. Wnen the CRPL Model C-2 ionosonde

was developed in 19^-9> the logarithmic character of the frequency scale

was used to devise a MUF-factor scale and thus eliminate the need for

the family of MUF curves. The MUF-factor is the ratio between the MUF

and the vertical- incidence critical frequency of the ordinary wave.
- 22 -

2. Sudden ionosphere disturbances.

During the period 1927-39? Mogel in Germany observed that the

field strength of short-wave signals decreased during magnetic storms.

In October 1935? Dellinger of NBS reported the occurrence of

radio fade-outs on March 20, May 12, July 6 and August 30, 1935. The

radio evidence of the phenomenon was a sudden disappearance of highfrequency long-distance radio signals for several minutes, the complete

process of fading out and reappearing occupying about 15 minutes.

At Mount Wilson Observatory, on July 6 and August 30? 1935

>

bright eruptions (solar flares) had been observed on the sun within a few minutes of the time of the radio fade-outs, while for the other two

dates no observations had been made at the time of the fade-outs.

Beverage of the Eadio Corporation of America reported to Dellinger the

occurrence of a large sharp pulse on an earth-current recorder within

a few minutes of the time of several of the radio fade-outs.

From much more data of this sort, the fade-out (known as the

Mogel-Dellinger effect until 1937? an(i thereafter called a sudden ionosphere disturbance or short wave fade-out) has been correlated with

solar flares. Below about 1 Mc the enhanced ionization produced by the

flares frequently causes an increase in signal strength instead of the

fade-out observed on higher frequencies.

3. Predictions of ionospheric phenomenon.

a. Prediction of critical frequencies

As early as 193& a relation between solar activity and ionospheric characteristics had been found. During times of low solar

activity, as evidenced by a low sunspot number, the critical frequencies of the F2 layer were found to be appreciably lower than during

periods of high solar activity. This was graphically indicated by

workers at the National Bureau of Standards, using data obtained with

the multi- frequency ionosonde developed in 1933? and covering half of

a sunspot cycle.

Since it appeared that a high value of sunspot number usually

corresponded to a high value of ionizing radiation, it followed that a method of predicting solar activity (i.e. the average sunspot number)

was the first step in making an ionospheric prediction.

In order that IRPL might use the data which were being

received from all over the world for prediction purposes, it was necessary not only to understand their geographic, diurnal and seasonal
- 23 - variations but also to determine their relationship to relative sunspot

numbers. While a simple correlation of ionosphere characteristics with

relative sunspot numbers had been found, during the war the trends of

the variation of these characteristics with sunspot number were determined for the locations on earth of many of the ionosphere stations.

In 19*+ 3 a method of predicting the ionospheric characteristics was presented which involved the extrapolation of a curve of 12-

month running average sunspot number against time. It was found advantageous to group the various months into seasons, within which the

solar radiation did not vary appreciably. For temperate latitudes, the

months were grouped as follows: (a) November, December, January and

February; (b) March and April; (c) May, June and July; (d) September

and October.

The variation of critical frequencies at any station with

sunspot cycle, without regarding seasonal variation, but for any particular hour, was represented by curves of 12-month running averages

Of the monthly average critical frequencies plotted against the 12-

month running averages of the monthly average Zurich sunspot numbers.

These so-called trend curves, for all stations and for all times of day,

appeared to exhibit the same slope, a feature of advantage when but few

data were available.

From the predicted average sunspot number for a given season,

the predicted seasonal value of the 12 -month running average of the

monthly average critical frequency could be made for any stations, for

any time of day, simply by extrapolating the particular trend curve. For the Fl and E layers, it was found necessary only to estimate the

12-month running average critical frequency for one time of day,

usually noon, since the diurnal variation of the critical frequency

expressed as percentages of the noon value was independent of sunspot

number.

To correct for seasonal variations, an average seasonal

value of the predicted critical frequency was obtained by multiplying

the predicted 12-month-running-average-value for the middle of the

season by a "seasonal index", defined as the ratio of the seasonal

average to the 12-month running average at midseason.

World-wide prediction charts of critical frequencies were

prepared, in terms of the parameters latitude and local time. Where

data were scanty, the critical frequencies for corresponding points in

the opposite hemisphere and the reversed season were used.
- 2k -

b. The longitude effect.

Another result of the improved world-wide coverage, the so- called "longitude effect", was put into operational use by IRPL in

19^3. This effect indicated that ionosphere characteristics were not

the same at the same local time for stations at about the same latitude

but different longitudes, as had been supposed. The phenomenon of variations of ionospheric characteristics at a given latitude other than

those attributable solely to local time was termed the "longitude effect".

The results for different stations at the equinoxes plotted against both

magnetic latitude and geographic latitude indicated that magnetic as well as geographic latitude played a part in controlling the F2 layer

morphology.

As a result, the world was divided, for practical operational

purposes, into east, (E), west, (W), and intermediate (i) zones. The

"E" and "w" zones were each chosen so as to extend for 60° of geomagnetic longitude on either side of their respective center meridians

passing through the two geomagnetic poles. The two "i" zones each had

a width of 60°. In each zone the characteristics of the ionosphere

were averaged for the range of longitudes, to obtain a practical approximation.

c. Forecasting of ionosphere storms.

A program was undertaken by IRPL, in collaboration with DTM,

to study the relations between ionosphere storms and the sun, whose

radiations produced the storms. Improved observational techniques, like

the Harvard University coronograph, a device for photographing the

extremely active solar corona, contributed to the study. As a result of

the analysis, a weekly forecast was issued, which proved to be of some value to the armed services.

A different approach, however, led to a considerably more

accurate service of forecasting. In this, studies of the behavior of

radio direction-finding bearings over the North Atlantic path showed

that it was possible to issue warnings of radio disturbance from a few

hours to a half day or more in advance.

The direction finder was operated in the usual manner. Its

important characteristic was that it gave an instantaneous bearing

indication, so that rapid shifts could be noted. The bearing data were used in conjunction with observations of the fluctuation of the horizontal component of the earth's magnetic field. The fluctuations of

magnetograph readings were taken over the most active three-hour

period in the preceding 2U-hour period and classified into a disturbance

figure. By the use of these techniques, it was often possible to recognize ionosphere storms in their initial phase.
- 25 -

d. MUF over long paths.

Another problem faced by the IEPL was the development of a simple and rapid method of obtaining the maximum usable frequency (MUF)

over any path in any part of the world. The groundwork for this was

laid in 193& when the "transmission curve" method of scaling ionospheric

records was devised, which led to values which could be applied to

critical-frequency data to obtain MUF values. These values were satisfactory for distances up to 2500 miles ('+000 km), but for greater distances, the method of multiple hops proved clumsy, and indeed, quite

inadequate in the light of observed radio propagation data.

Consequently the empirical "two-control point" method was

devised (independently at the IEFL and ISIB) for paths longer than

2500 miles. In this method the MUF over such a path is limited by the

lower of the 2500-mile MUF at two control points, 1250 miles from each

station along the great-circle path connecting the two stations. Considerable further improvement was made in MUF calculations by including

the effects of "sporadic-E" propagation, also on a two-control point

basis.

World charts were prepared from this information, giving

predictions of maximum usable frequencies three months in advance.

V. The Central Radio Propagation Laboratory (Since 19^-6)

1. Organization and functions

On May 1, 19^6, the Central Eadio Propagation Laboratory was

formally established as Division ik of the National Bureau of Standards,

with J. H. Dellinger as Chief. The Division's work had been previously

carried on as Section 6 of the Electricity Division (Division l). The

new Division took over the work of radio propagation research and prediction which had been done by the Interservice Eadio Propagation Laboratory, as well as the measurements and standards work of NBS in the

radio field.

The Division operated the standard-frequency transmitting

station at Beltsville, Maryland, and the ^50-acre radio propagation

laboratory at Sterling, Virginia. In addition, six other radio propagation field stations were placed under the control of CRPL. These

were: Adak, Alaska; Maui, T. H. ; Palmyra Island; Guam Island; Manila,

P. I.j and Trinidad, B.W.I. The stations at Adak, Maui, and Trinidad

had been operated by DTM; that at Guam by the U. S. Signal Corps; while

the stations at Manila and Palmyra were activated by CRPL.
- 26 - Nine sections were established in CRPL. They were: Basic

Ionospheric Research; Basic Microwave Research; Regular Propagation

Services; Frequency Utilization Research; Experimental Ionospheric

Research; Experimental Microwave Research; Regular Propagation Measurements; Ionospheric Measurements; and Microwave Measurement Standards.

In February 19^9, Division 1^ of NBS was reorganized and three

subdivisions formed: the Ionosphere Research Laboratory, the Systems

Research Laboratory, and the Measurements Standards Laboratory.

The Ionosphere Research Laboratory, consisting of three

sections, carried out basic research on the upper atmosphere and its

ability to reflect radio waves. It also controlled the operation of

the various NBS field stations.

The Systems Research Laboratory, which also consisted of three

sections, applied propagation information to the practical problems of

communications with particular consideration for the advantages and

limitations of the types of systems involved.

The Measurements Standards Laboratory, consisting of two sec- tions, conducted research in methods for measuring electric quantities

at H.F. and microwave frequencies.

A shortage of space confronted CRPL from the start. At

various times different sections or parts of sections were quartered

in several buildings on the Bureau grounds or in other buildings in

Washington. In 1950 Congress provided authorization for a laboratory

building for CRPL with the suggestion that it would be desirable to

locate the facilities outside of the Washington area. A Site Selection

Board finally recommended Boulder, Colorado as the location best meeting all of the important criteria. Shortly thereafter, the citizens of

Boulder through private contribution offered to the Government a tract

of 217 acres, on which the laboratory buildings are now located.

The Radio Building, which houses the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory, was completed in April 195^. It is a reinforced

concrete wing-type structure, having a gross area of 227,000 square feet

and a net floor space of 172,000 square feet. The design of the building included a number of special features, such as stable platforms for

mounting delicate instruments, an open-air roof laboratory for unconfined experiments, and ground-level access to all floors, except the

roof.

Portions of the staff of CRPL were transferred to Boulder in

1951 and were assigned temporary quarters. The rest of the staff
- 27 - which was to make the transfer from Washington occupied the Radio

Building during May, June and July 195^.

On September lk, 195^, President Dwight D. Eisenhower formally dedicated the Boulder Laboratories of the National Bureau of

Standards. Also participating in the program were Sinclair Weeks, the

Secretary of Commerce; Dr. Allen V. Astin, Director of the National

Bureau of Standards; and Dr. Frederick W. Brown, Director of the NBS

Boulder Laboratories.

By 1957* "the organization of CRPL at Boulder had taken the

form of three divisions: Radio Propagation Physics, Radio Propagation

Engineering, and Radio Standards.

The Radio Propagation Physics Division deals with the physics

of radio wave propagation with particular reference to the ionosphere.

This work includes studies and experiments to find out how the ionosphere is formed and how it affects radio communications. The work of

this Division consists of the following broad phases: 1. Laboratory

experiments to develop suitable types of equipment for specific kinds

of investigation. 2. Accumulation of data on a routine basis from

fixed and mobile field stations, together with supervision of the operational procedures. 3* Utilization of these data in applications to

problems of radio communication or to basic research, k. Development

of better methods of securing and processing basic data. Five sections

make up the division; Upper Atmospheric Physics; Ionospheric Research;

Regular Propagation Services; Sun-Earth Relationships; and Very High

Frequency Research.

The primary responsibilities of the Radio Propagation Engineering Division are tropospheric or "line-of- sight" propagation

research and related studies of frequency utilization. Tropospheric

propagation research is necessary to measure and evaluate the effects

which terrain, climate and meteorology have on very-high-frequency,

ultra-high-frequency and microwave radio systems. Frequency utilization studies are designed to provide technical data which will assist

in the allocating, regulating, and advisory activities of such agencies

as the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Defense.

The division consists of eight sections : Data Reduction Instrumentation, Modulation Systems, Navigation Systems, Radio Noise, Tropospheric

Measurements, Tropospheric Analysis, Radio Systems Application Engineering, and Radio Meteorology.

Through the Radio Standards Division, the National Bureau of

Standards conducts a continuing program for the establishment, maintenance and improvement of basic standards and precision methods of

measurement throughout the radio frequency spectrum. Six sections com- prise this division: High-Frequency Impedance Standards, Electronic

Calibration Center, Microwave Circuit Standards. The Division also

operates the two standard-frequency transmitters WWV (located near

Washington, D. C.) and WWVH (Maui, Hawaii).
- 28 -

2. Development of the CRPL Model C-ionosondes.

Starting in 19^6 a new series of ionosondes was developed at

NBS. The first in the series was designated as the CRPL Model C

ionosphere recorder. For consistency, it will be referred to as the

Model C-l, since the three models following were named the C-2, C-3 and

C-k. Complete details of all these ionosondes are to be found in

Appendix III.

a. The Model C-l

This ionosonde employed a heterodyne method similar to that

used in the NBS Model A ionosonde. It was designed by P. G. Sulzer,

and incorporated his idea of untuned receiver input and transmitter

circuits. It had a frequency range from 1.0 to 20.0 Mc and used 35 mm

film for recording the sweeps, but there was no scale of frequency or height on the record. A lady's wrist watch was photographed with each

sweep to provide the time at which the sweep was made.

b. The Model C-2

The experience gained in the development of the Model C-l

was used in the design of an improved model, the CRPL Model C-2.

This was the first completely automatic ionosonde to use in

continuous heavy duty the heterodyne pulse transmitter arrangement

described by Sulzer. It was first placed in use in 19^7»

The Model C-2 differed from the C-l in that the frequency

range was increased to 2k Mc in the prototype model, and to 25 Mc in

the production model. In addition, both frequency and height markers

appeared on each sweep record (or ionogram), and the date and time of

each sweep was photographically recorded on each ionogram.

c. The Model C-3

While the fundamental features of the Model C-3 were the same as those of the Model C-2, a number of basic improvements were

incorporated. It was first placed in use in 1950.

d. The Model C-k

This model, while basically resembling the Model C-3, had a number of major changes made in its design. This ionosonde was placed

in service in 1957*
- 29 -

3. Antenna testing and design

Prior to 19*4-9., little attention was given to the design of

antennas primarily for vertical incidence sounding. Those antennas in

use for radio receiving were employed or adapted to the particular

sounder. The earliest ionosondes used combinations of inverted-L

antennas, each antenna serving for two different frequency ranges. By

the early 19*4-0' s, vertical rhombic antennas and single wire delta

antennas had come into use.

With the development of the CRPL Model C ionosondes having a frequency range of 1 to 25 Mc, it became apparent that serious attention had to be given to the determination of the best type of ionosonde

antenna.

The requirements of such an antenna were:

(1) The impedance of the antenna system had to be relatively

uniform over the frequency range, and, for purposes of maximum power transfer, as nearly equal as possible to the output

impedance of the transmitter (of the order of 1,000 ohms).

(2) The radiation had to be substantially in the vertical

direction.

(3) The antenna had to be as efficient a radiator as possible.

During the first quarter of 19*4-9, personnel of NBS made

operational tests of three types of ionosphere antennas: a vertical

rhombic, a new double-W, and a multiple-wire delta. Using the double-W

as a reference, automatic ionosphere records were made on each antenna

and compared. The results indicated that the double-W antenna was

slightly the best, with the delta a close second. In view of its

simpler, more rugged and more economical installation, the delta

antenna, was tentatively selected for operational use.

In May 1950, Cones, Cottony and Watts of NBS reported on tests

made with scale models of antennas, which led to the ionospheric

measurements

The radiation pattern of the test antenna was measured using

a model antenna technique. The principles of this technique consisted

of constructing a model antenna having the configuration of the fullsized antenna under study, but with the linear dimensions reduced by

some scaling factor n. A vee frame carries a target transmitter along

an arc of a circle having a 53-foot radius. The model antenna is

located at the center of the range, and its response at different

vertical angles is measured by moving the target transmitter over the
- 30 -

Figure l6

Model antenna range at the Sterling, Va. field station. The target

transmitter is mounted at the top of the vee, and the model

antenna at the center of the range.

Figure 17

The original form of scaling table
- 31 - antenna from one side to the other. The transmitter is operated at a frequency n times the operating frequency of the full-sized antenna.

It thus became possible to bring the target transmitter much closer

physically to the antenna under test and still maintain a spacing of

several wave lengths at the scaled-up frequency.

The study showed that the impedance of the multiple-wire

delta antenna was reasonably uniform over the operating range of 1 to

25 Mc, and compared favorably with the double-W antenna. The mean

impedance of the delta was sufficiently close to 600 ohms to permit

satisfactory operation with a 600-ohm transmission line of any moderate

length. The legs of the multiple-wire delta used operationally were

nominally 130 ft. long. In 1955> some test installations were made of

multiple-wire delta antennas having a 300-ft. leg length, in order to

obtain better low- frequency response of the antenna. The initial

results indicated that considerable improvement in low-frequency

response was obtained.

In practice, one multiple-wire delta antenna is used with the

transmitter, with a similar antenna used for the receiver of the ionosonde.

The present experimental facilities of the Antenna Studies

project at Boulder, Colorado include a model antenna range on Table

Mesa about ten air miles north of the Boulder Laboratories of NBS,

which contains a turntable and an automatic radiation pattern recorder,

for measurement of the antenna patterns as well as equipment for

measurement of gain, impedance, and other properties of antennas. In

addition to this installation, there is another antenna range on top of

the Green Mountain Mesa which Is located on the western edge of the

Boulder Laboratories 1 property. This range is equipped to measure the

radiation patterns of antennas designed for vertical incidence soundings.

k. Ionospheric field stations operated by or associated with

NBS.

Until 19^6, NBS operated only the Washington field station

for making vertical incidence soundings. With the establishment of

CEPL in that year, six additional field stations were placed under its

supervision. These are named in Section IV. 1.

Besides the stations operated by CRPL, a number of field

stations became associated with the organization, prior to 1950. These

were Fairbanks, Alaska (the Geophysical Institute of the University of

ALaska), Harvard University, Louisiana State University, and Huancayo,

Peru.
- 32 -

During 19^9, 1950 and 1951, CRPL activated stations at

Barrow, Alaska; Anchorage, Alaska; Narsarssuak, Greenland; Panama

Canal Zone; and near San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over the same period the

U. S. Army Signal Corps activated a station at Belmar, N. J. (later

moved to Ft. Monmouth, N. J.), while the Danish URSI Commission established a station at Godhavn, Greenland and the Icelandic Post and Telegraph activated a station at Reykjavik, Iceland. The stations at

Belmar, Godhavn and Reykjavik were regarded as associated laboratories

of the National Bureau of Standards. In 1952 the Manila Observatory

activated a station in the Philippines at Baguio.

During the period from 195**- to 1956 the Geophysical Institute

of Huancayo, Peru established another station at Talara, Peru; and the

U. S. Army Signal Corps activated a station near the geomagnetic north

pole at Thule, Greenland. Both of these stations were regarded as associated laboratories of the National Bureau of Standards.

In the late fall of 1956 plans were made for the operation

of several stations in connection with the. International Geophysical

Year, - one at St. Johns, Newfoundland, several in Antarctica, and a number in the temperate zones.

The present classification of field stations is as follows:

(1) Stations manned by NBS personnel, such as Maui, T. H.

(2) Stations operated under contract with NBS, such as the one at Fairbanks, Alaska.

(3) Stations operated by the U. S. Signal Corps,

but following the operational procedures of NBS stations, such as White Sands, N. M.

(k) Stations operated by foreign nationals, but amenable to

the operational procedures of NBS stations, such as Godhavn, Greenland.

Details of operation of all these field stations are to be

found in Appendix IV. Information included comprises the dates of

operational starting and ending (where appropriate), organization

sponsoring the station, ionosondes used, and names of NBS personnel in

charge of the respective stations.

5. Reduction of ionospheric data

In order to be useful, the ionograms must be interpreted as

a series of numerical values of the various ionospheric characteristics.

In addition, a set of alphabetical symbols has been established by

international agreement to indicate particular ionospheric or non- ionospheric conditions which modify the numerical values. Periodically,
- 33 - representatives from various nations meet and discuss ionospheric

problems of interpretation, with the meetings followed by new pronouncements as to procedures.

Of particular importance is the measurement of the penetration or critical frequencies of the different layers of the ionosphere,

the minimum virtual heights of the layers, and the transmission

factors (known as MUF- factors) for selected distances. The design of

ionosondes and the scaling procedures are aimed at the most practical

and efficient method of making these measurements.

During the early days of ionospheric work at NBS, virtual

heights of the layers were the only quantities measured, in terms of

the delay time between the base signal (or ground pulse) and the return

echo from the ionosphere. As sweep-frequency ionosondes were developed,

the scaling of critical frequencies and MUF- factors became possible.

For the reduction of data from the ionograms, overlays were

employed carrying scales of frequency, virtual height, and transmission

curves either of maximum usable frequency or, for recent years, MUFfactors. With the paper ionograms of the early ionosondes, the overlay

was superposed on the individual ionogram and the desired information

scaled. With the advent of recording ionosonde sweeps on film, various

methods of projection were used. At first a film-strip projector was

employed and the image projected against an opaque overlay. With the

development of the OREL Model C-2 ionosonde a special type of scaling

table was designed, in which the film was projected onto a mirror,

thence to the underside of a ground-glass screen. A transparent overlay was then superposed on the image of the ionogram. With some modifications, this system is still used in the reduction of ionograms at

CEPL stations and associated laboratories.

The scaled data are entered on two types of sheets. On the

daily sheet, the hourly values of all characteristics for a given day

are tabulated for each of the 2k hours. On the monthly sheet each

separate characteristic is tabulated for the entire month and monthly

median values prepared.

In 1955 a graphical representation of frequencies, termed

the f-plot, was introduced as a useful accessory in the scaling of

ionospheric data. On the f-plot are plotted, for each 15-minute sweep,

the critical frequencies of all the regular layers, the minimum frequency of ionospheric reflection, and the blanketing frequency of

sporadic E, together with the indication of the type of Es present.

Since considerable time is required for the manual tabulation and processing of data, machine processing has been applied to

the determination of monthly median values, frequency distribution
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- 36 -

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- 37 -

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- la - charts and the like. For this operation the hourly values of ionospheric characteristics are entered on punched cards, which are then

handled in the desired manner by card machines.

6. Data inspection.

One of the important phases of the sounding program is the

routine inspection of the ionospheric data obtained by the network of

field stations, in order to insure uniformity of the data.

Prior to the time of CRPL, the only ionospheric data

obtained systematically by MBS was that from the Washington field station. With the formation of CRPL in 19^6 and the acquisition of six

additional field stations and five associated laboratories, the need

for regular inspection of the data became apparent. In the early days

of CRPL, checking of the data was done only by the Regular Propagation

Services Section. In January 19^7> an expanded checking procedure was

begun by Section 'J, Regular Propagation Measurements, later known as

the Field Operations Section. In May 1950 Section 7 was discontinued

as such, and the work transferred to Section 1, Upper Atmosphere

Research.

March 8, 1956 the Sun-Earth Relationships Section was formed

at the Boulder Laboratories of NBS, and the program of data inspection

transferred to it, along with the control of the field stations at Ft.

Belvoir, Va. and Anchorage, Alaska, the sites of the North Atlantic and

North Pacific Radio Warning Services.

The program of data inspection involves the continuing exam- ination of ionograms and tabulated data from field stations in the

light of existing procedures. These procedures are subject to modification as more information concerning the nature and behavior of the

ionosphere is obtained.

Over the years many types of aids have been devised for the

use of field stations so far as the station operation and interpretation of the ionograms were concerned. Memoranda describing new and

improved procedures, atlases of typical ionograms, scaling aids of

various sorts, - all these have been provided. The personnel at field

stations have been encouraged to submit questions regarding the interpretation of difficult ionograms, and to call attention to unusual

ionograms.

The results of the periodic examination of field station

data are made available to the personnel at the stations through

regular correspondence.
- k2 -

7. Improvement and extension of prediction methods.

During the existence of IRPL, the procedures for predicting

ordinary-wave critical frequency and optimum working frequency were developed to a considerable degree. After the beginning of CRPL these

methods were improved appreciably, principally because of the accumulation of data over a longer period of time.

During the interval July- September 19^8 the FCC curves of

predicted ordinary-wave critical frequency and optimum working frequency for a transmission distance of ^000 km by the F2 layer were revised by the Regular Propagation Services Section of CRPL. These

predictions as originally computed by the former IRPL had become obsolete with the availability of additional data obtained during {he high

part of the then current sunspot cycle.

In 19^9 a paper by White and Potter of CRPL indicated the

usefulness of antipodal stations for the prediction of F2 critical

frequencies. The authors used data from Watheroo, Western Australia

and Baton Rouge, La. for the years 19^-19^7 inclusive. It was found

that the predicted values of F2 critical frequencies for all hours of

the day for Baton Rouge, La. based on data from Watheroo, agreed with

observed values almost as well as those predicted from Baton Rouge

values. These two stations were located at almost antipodal points.

Similar tests conducted for other stations in corresponding geographical

latitudes, north and south, but not antipodally located showed poorer

agreement.

In 1952 two other workers at CRPL, Ostrow and PoKempner,

found that ionospheric data for the current sunspot cycle only should

be used in preparing ionospheric radio propagation predictions. Using

data from Washington, D. C. and Watheroo, Australia, and rescaling the

original ionograms when necessary to conform to current scaling practices, it was found that small but real differences existed between

sunspot cycles in the relationship between F2-layer critical frequencies

and sunspot number.

Predictions of F2-layer critical frequencies and maximum

usable communication frequencies have been published by NBS since

September 19^ on a monthly basis for three months in advance. Since

March 19^5 these predictions have been revised on a semi-monthly basis.

The monthly predictions are distributed on a subscription basis by the

U. S. Government Printing Office, while the semi-monthly revisions may

be obtained free of charge from CRPL, Boulder.

The monthly publication, CRPL-D Series, starting with the

September 19^7 issue, contains contour charts of F2-zero-MUF and F2-

^OOO-MUF for each of the zones, West, Intermediate, and East, into

which the world is divided for the purpose of taking into consideration
- 1+3 - the variation of the characteristics of the F2 layer with longitude;

the world-vide contour chart of E-2000-MUF; the chart of median limiting frequency of Es; and a chart showing the percentage of time occurence for Es-P-OOO-MUF in excess of 15 Mc. Beginning with predictions

for December 1958, there will be contour charts for two I-zones:

I- zone (Afro-European) and I- zone (Pacific).

8. Radio warning services.

The predictions of the Regular Propagation Services Section

are prepared for 3 months in advance of the applicable time. Radio

communications systems require, in addition, more timely information

as to possible disturbances in the ionosphere which might affect com- munication. Such forecasts are made possible by the close statistical

relationships between solar activity and geomagnetic disturbances,

which are, in turn, closely related to ionospheric disturbances.

Two headquarters for this service are presently in operation.

One, serving the North Atlantic area for transatlantic radio paths, is

located at Fort Belvoir, Va„; the other, serving the North Pacific

area, is located at Anchorage, Alaska. The North Atlantic Radio Warning Service has been operating- since about 19^2, while the North

Pacific Radio Warning Service was initiated in 1952. Both services are under the supervision of the Sun-Earth Relationships Section of CRPL. (1957)

In addition to special observations carried on at the respective headquarters, magnetic, ionospheric, and circuit-performance

observations through the two service areas are reported promptly every

day or oftener to the respective forecasting center.

The NBS service makes available to operators of communication systems three sets of disturbance forecasts of the quality of radio

propagation conditions. They are made rather specifically three or four times a day for 1 to 7 hours in advance (short term forecast), 2^

hours in advance (medium term forecast), and 1 to 27 days in advance

(advance forecast). Dissemination of the information is accomplished

by telephone, telegraph, teletype, and letter; or, for the short term

forecasts, by broadcasting oyer WWV and WWVH, the two standard-frequency

and time transmitters of CRPL.

The communications operator receives the forecast in terms

of 'expected quality" of radio propagation conditions. Basically, however, the forecasts are of variations in the intensity and direction of

the earth's magnetic field. These variations are closely associated

with abnormal conditions in the ionosphere, which in turn affects the

propagation of specific radio transmission.
- kh - Practical circuit "quality" includes many types of effects,

but it is found that the indices of quality compare more closely with

magnetic disturbance variations than with any single ionospheric

characteristic. Therefore, the magnetic condition is given most weight

in radio disturbance forecasting. The magnetically disturbed periods

can often be forecast several days or weeks in advance from solarterrestrial relationships or from the marked tendency (at sunspot minimum) for magnetic disturbances to recur at about 27-day intervals.

Occasionally a forecast can be made a few hours in advance of the

beginning of a severe disturbance, - if a very intense solar flare is

observed, for instance.

9. Vertical sounding at low frequencies.

Prior to 19^9> some work had been done at NBS on verticalincidence ionosphere sounding on low frequencies, but only as an accessory to the routine probing at high frequencies.

In 19^9 work was begun on a pulse transmitter which was com- pleted by early 1950 and operated on a fixed frequency basis. The

transmitter was of the master oscillator -power amplifier type, at first

using four type 527 tubes in the output stage, and later six such tubes.

It was capable of delivering pulses of over one megawatt power with a duration of about 100 microsec. As soon as it was available, a series

of experiments was performed, at first on an exploratory basis.

Vertical- incidence reflections were obtained at 37 kc, which is believed

to be the lowest frequency at which such an experiment has been successful. Other frequencies were 50 kc, 100 kc, and 160 kc. However, the

results were not of sufficient value to describe the relation between

apparent reflection height and frequency, which is one of the important

parameters used in ionospheric analysis.

Design and assembly of a sweep-frequency apparatus were begun

in late 1950, and it was put into operation at the Sterling Va. field

station in December 1951- The principles first used by Sulzer in 19^6

for high frequency ionosphere recorders were adopted, since the

advantages of mechanical simplicity and low cost were not to be ignored.

The transmitter consisted of a series of wide-band amplifiers

fed by the output of a mixer. The mixer produced a beat frequency

between two oscillators, one a continuous-wave oscillator variable in

frequency from 2 Mc to 3.1 Mc, the other a pulsed oscillator at a fixed

frequency of 2 Mc.

In some ways the design of the low frequency equipment was less difficult than the design of the high frequency equipment. The

band width was only about 1 Mc compared to 25 Mc. Also the low frequencies permitted the use of ferromagnetic cores in all transmitter stages;

therefore, push-pull operation with appreciable inductive coupling
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- k6 -

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- t7

-

between the plate circuits was possible, which allowed the high power

stages to operate as Class B amplifiers with reasonably good waveform.

At first a single loop antenna was used, which was approximately 350 ft. long and 150 ft. high, Measurement of peak-pulse

antenna current at 100 kc indicated that the radiated power was probably of the order of five watts. In spite of the low radiated power,

reflections at 100 kc were frequently obtained during the night hours.

When the equipment was moved to Boulder, Colorado, a single wire

triangular antenna was installed across the top of a mountain canyon,

with a length of 3300 ft. per side. The frequency range of the transmitter was also extended to 2 Mc, thus overlapping appreciably the frequency range of the CEFL Model C-2, C-3 and C-k ionosondes.

The record of apparent reflection height versus frequency was

made in the conventional way by intensity modulation of an oscilloscope

beam to which a line detection type of time base was applied. The line

thus produced was photographed by a camera whose film moved in synchronism with the frequency- change motor of the transmitter and in a direction of travel perpendicular to the time base line.

10. Ionospheric research.

Since the early days of vertical-incidence soundings,

scientists at NBS have studied those phenomena which directly or indirectly contribute to the behavior of the ionosphere. Investigations have been made of the complex motions which the ionosphere undergoes as a result of the heating by the sun and of the gravitational

tidal forces exerted by the sun and moon. Another line of investigation has been the study of winds in the upper atmosphere, which have

periodic variations and travel at speeds up to 300 miles per hour.

A thorough knowledge and understanding of the nature and

cause of ionization in the ionosphere is vitally important to the

operation of the CRPL prediction service. Progress has been made in

gaining a better understanding of the physical characteristics and

processes of the upper atmosphere.

An understanding of the physical and chemical processes which

are responsible for ionospheric behavior is basic to an understanding

of ionospheric radio propagation characteristics. Gross characteristics

are relatively predictable with present knowledge, but many important

new developments and applications involving radio propagation depend

upon a knowledge of the fine details of ionospheric behavior which can

only be gained through continued fundamental research.

The practical application of ionospheric and radio propagation science is seriously hampered by the great amount of labor

involved in present manual methods. A new approach to this problem is
- U8 - being made with the increased use of machine methods of accumulating

and processing new data.

Since solar radiation exerts a considerable effect on the

earth, particularly on the ionosphere, it is necessary that a good

understanding of the mechanisms by which it arises, is emitted, and

is transferred to the earth, must be obtained. Special methods must

be devised for the detection of the various solar effects on the

earth's atmosphere. Close cooperation is maintained by CRPL with

solar observatories all over the world.

The ionospheric film library of CRPL is the largest in the

world and comprises a unique quantity of research material, the useful- ness of which is being more appreciated by workers both in America and

abroad.

It is beyond the scope of this history to discuss in detail

all of the different types of ionospheric research pursued at CRPL.

The list of pertinent references will serve as a guide to the type of

work in this field.

VI. International Programs of Ionospheric Research

1. The Second International Polar Year.

The First International Meteorological Polar Year extended

from August 1882 to August I883. Ten nations were involved: Austria,

Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Norway, Russia,

Sweden, and the United States. Each nation established one or more

stations as near the Arctic Circle as practicable, at which continuous

meteorological and magnetic observations were made.

Fifty years later the Second International Polar Year was

initiated, from August 1932 to August 1933. As far as possible, the

different nations reoccupied the stations occupied by them in 1882-83-

Many new stations were opened, and the observational program was

greatly expanded over that of 50 years previously. In addition to the

usual meteorological and magnetic observations, studies of the heights

of the ionospheric layers were included as part of the program.

Arrangements were made for ionospheric measurements by

various expeditions and the Bureau on a cooperative basis. The pulsemethod of sounding the ionosphere used by NBS was employed in cooperation with the Carnegie Institution of Washington to develop improved

types of ionosondes.

At the Washington field station of NBS, measurement of layer

heights was extended to include noon and midnight measurements each

week, as well as two 2k-hour runs on 4l00 kc. These observations were
- k9 - made with the automatic recorder developed in 1931*

By April 1933 the automatic multifrequency ionosonde was in

operation at NBS, and some of the soundings obtained with this equipment were incorporated with the other Polar Year measurements. Aside

from the data obtained at the Washington station, NBS did no other ionospheric measurements during the Second Polar Year.

The United States participated in the program of the Second

International Polar Year through the operation of two special stations, one designated as the College-Fairbanks station in Alaska, provided for

by an act of Congress appropriating $30*000; and the second the station

established at Point Barrow, Alaska, as a reoccupation of the station

at that place occupied by the United States during the First International Polar Year of 1882-83

The College-Fairbanks station (at the Alaska Agricultural

College and School of Mines, later becoming the University of Alaska)

was under the direction of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. The

station at Point Barrow was established through the cooperation of the

U. S. Weather Bureau, the Carnegie Institution of Washington through

its Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, and the International Polar

Year Committee.

One phase of the work at the College-Fairbanks Station dealt

with the measurement of ionospheric layer heights. No work of an ionospheric nature was done at the Point Barrow station.

2. CRPL and the International Geophysical Year.

a. The general program.

During the International Geophysical Year, which began July 1,

1957 and will continue through December 31, 1958, several thousand

scientists representing some sixty nations will make simultaneous worldwide observations of the earth and its immediate cosmic environment.

The data gathered in this huge cooperative measurement program should

help answer questions regarding the size and shape of the earth, the

origins of earthquakes, the causes of radio blackouts, the sources of

weather disturbances, and many other terrestrial phenomena.

The greatest part of the Bureau' s effort during IGY will be

concerned with variations in the ionosphere. Because of its extensive

studies of the ionosphere as a factor in radio propagation, the Bureau

has been given responsibility for operating the Western Hemisphere

World Data Center for the ionospheric data program. In this program

information will be collected from numerous laboratories making observations of the ionosphere and added to that of the Boulder Laboratories.
- 50 - These data will be made available to all qualified research scientists,

as well as to the other world data centers in Moscow, Tokyo and Slough,

England

.

During periods of intense ionospheric activity, IGY scientists hope to gather enough information about the ionosphere so that

improved predictions of radio propagation conditions can be made. The

ionospheric studies will consist mainly in soundings of the various

layers of this region,, The Bureau will be directly concerned with some 37 of "the approximately 160 stations scattered throughout the world

that will be making vertical soundings of the ionosphere. Simultaneous

data gathered by all the stations will be plotted and analyzed to provide a global picture of the ionosphere and its properties.

The Bureau equipped 16 new stations, carefully located to

fill important gaps in the world network. Five of these - the

Antarctic sounding stations - are operated by NBS and the others will

be closely guided in their work by Bureau staff members. In addition

the pre- IGY network of 7 NBS-operated and 11 associated stations will

continue to provide ionospheric data through IGY.

The Bureau also played an important role in the international

organization and coordination of the ionospheric soundings program.

Members of the staff were authors of the 150-page IGY instruction

manual and an extensive atlas of typical records, which will be invaluable in the attempt to obtain consistent and comparable observations

from the world network.

As another part of the IGY program, the Bureau will intensify

its study of sporadic E, operating carefully controlled circuits in the

Far East, South America, the Caribbean, and the United States.

Scatter propagation, occurring when high-powered transmitters

are beamed at the ionosphere and small but useful amounts of radio

energy are returned to the earth, will form another aspect of NBS

participation in the IGY program.

b. World Warning Agency.

The day-to-day coordination of a large part of IGY observations is accomplished through the most extensive communication network

ever arranged for scientific research purposes. The designation of

special days and intervals for special or intensified effort by IGY

stations will help assure that the right kinds of observations are taken while the extensive IGY networks are in operation.

Focal point of the system is the Bureau's radio forecasting

center near Washington, which has been selected as the IGY World Warning Agency by the International IGY Committee. From this nerve center
- 51 - of the whole IGY program, located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, warnings

are flashed to scientists throughout the world to redouble their observational efforts in anticipation of unusual activity in cosmic rays,

aurora, earth magnetism, and ionospheric disturbances.

Warnings are of two kinds: Alerts and Special World Intervals.

When reports justify it, the staff of the World Warning Agency issues an

Alert, advising scientists that a Special World Interval may be called

within a few days. If a strong disturbance appears likely within 2k

hours, the Special World Interval is announced on 8-hours notice. During the Special World Interval IGY programs in ionospheric physics,

geomagnetism, solar activity, cosmic rays, and aurora are intensified.

The international communication net involves the radio teletype network supervised by the World Meteorological Organization,

virtually all of the commercial communications facilities throughout

the world, government facilities (such as military channels, and in the

United States, the Civil Aeronautics Administration), and special

messages broadcast by stations WWV and WWVH (on the NBS radio propagation forecast channels) and their counterparts in other countries.

c. World Data Centers.

In order to make the best use of data obtained during the

IGY, data centers were established in various countries. Their functions were to serve as collection and distribution agencies for all

IGY data, and to make the data available for scientists doing research

in the particular fields.

Data centers for all disciplines were established in the

United States and in the U.S.S.R. Additional data centers for certain

disciplines of IGY were also established in other countries. The total

number of data centers for each discipline is usually 3 or ^For each

discipline, data Centers were established in the United States at institutions interested in the particular field and able to provide the

necessary facilities.

At the Boulder Laboratories of the National Bureau of Standards a World Data Center (WDC-A) handles the data from two disciplines - Airglow and Ionosphere. Data for these two disciplines are received

either in original form or as copies, from observatories in the area

assigned to World Data Center A. It is the responsibility of each data

center to provide copies of pertinent data to all the other data centers

in return for copies of data from their areas.

Facilities are provided at the NBS Data Center for visiting

scientists to work with the data in the World Data Center files. Copies

of data are made available at the cost of reproduction to any one desiring them.
- 52 - d. Data processing.

Much of the IGY program at the Boulder Laboratories will be

greatly aided by high-speed techniques developed chiefly during the

past 10 years. Without them, scientists could scarcely hope to keep

up with the processing of the billions of geophysical measurements to

be recorded during the extent of the IGY.

The IGY program will increase from 5 to 10 times the normal

volume of data handled by the Boulder Laboratories. Equipment has been

installed to make the computation of IGY data largely automatic, eliminating hand-processing wherever possible.

A great deal of the IGY information forwarded to Boulder will

be recorded on punched cards and stored in permanent archives. To

process the vast sea of scientific data that will come in from ionospheric stations in the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific area, the

Boulder Laboratories will rely on a high-speed electronic computer.
- 53 - Appendix I

Early NBS ionosondes

1. The first NBS automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

In 1933, the ionosonde used for fixed-frequency automatic

height recording on lj-100 kc was modified to cover a range of frequencies.

It was found that one set of receiver coils could he conveniently used between 2.5 and ^A Mc without modification, and the transmitter was designed to cover this range. Two cams were used to change

the frequency continuously. The transmitter tuning condensers were

actuated by one cam while the receiver tuning condensers were actuated

by another. Both cams were attached to a single shaft driven by a synchronous motor through a reduction gear. The cam shapes were determined after the ionosonde had been assembled.

The transmitter was keyed with an interrupter driven by a synchronous motor. The antenna system of the transmitter consisted of

four inverted L antennas of three-fourths wave length for 2.5, 3«0,

3.5 and 4.5 Mc, all permanently connected together at the base. The

receiving antenna was a single inverted L of three-fourths wave length

for about 4.0 Mc. Peak power was about 3*0 kw, and the pulse repetition frequency was 10 per sec.

Sensitized photographic paper four inches wide was used for

recording. The oscillograph of the receiver was provided with a revolving mirror driven by a synchronous motor connected to the same power system as used for the transmitter. The photographic paper was

moved over the pulse pattern in a direction parallel to the axis of the

revolving mirror. Frequency-wise, the paper was 1-l/U inches long for

the 2.5 to k.h Mc sweep.

The first ionograms obtained with this ionosonde were made on April 20, 1933, 9*5 min. being required for the sweep. No markers for

frequency or virtual height were present on the ionogram, a special

scaling overlay being required. The time was registered automatically

once an hour, but the date had to be marked manually on each ionogram.

Normally, automatic sweeps were made each hour or half-hour.

It was possible to make about six sweeps per hour if manual switching

was performed at the end of each sweep.

This ionosonde was used at the Beltsville field site until

about May 1935* At that time it was moved to Meadows, Md. (now the

site of Andrews Air Force Base), where it was operated until the fall

of 19I1I.
5^ -

Figure 31

The first NBS automatic multifrequency ionosonde,

*

«4

CTCtt6 <«

*' : '

ME«.tCYClCS

Figure 32

The first and second ionograms made with the original

KBS automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

(Original ionograms from which photograph was made were supplied

by T. R. GillHand)
- 55-

From May 1933 through October 19^+lj the ionospheric data

obtained with this equipment, supplemented at times by other ionosondes,

was published in the Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers.

The data for the frequencies 2.5 to k.k Mc were obtained with this

automatic ionosonde, while that for the frequencies from 1.6 to 2.5 Mc

and above h.k Mc were taken manually with the 1.6 to 25.0 Mc pulse

transmitter at Beltsville.

2. Model A ionosonde.

In 19^-0, a new type of ionosonde was designed and put into

use by NBS. It consisted of a pulsed transmitter linked to a receiver

by a beat-frequency system. The output of a variable-frequency

oscillator was mixed with the output of an oscillator operating at the

intermediate frequency of the receiver. The difference of these two

frequencies was selected and amplified in the transmitter. Signals to

be received were mixed with the output of the variable oscillator, the

frequency difference then being the receiver intermediate frequency

which was amplified and detected in the usual manner. This is the basic

idea for interlocking radio transmitter and receiver in modern multifrequency apparatus.

The variable oscillator, converter and power amplifier were

tracked by means of cams. The frequency range was divided into four

bands, with the frequencies spaced logarithmically. Band 1 went from

0.79 to 1.62 Mc; band 2, from 1.62 to 3.3*4- Mc; band 3, from 3.3^ to

6.73 Mc; and band k, from 6.73 to lU.O Mc. Switching from one band to

another was accomplished by relays. Each band required three cams for

operating the tuning condensers.

The pulse width was 500 microsec, with a pulse repetition

rate of 20 per sec. The approximate peak power was 2 kw. The time

required for one frequency sweep was one min.

With the first model, four L-type antennas were used, each

antenna serving for two different frequency ranges, being used first in

the 1/%-wavelength range, and later in the 3/U-wavelength range. A

later model employed two single wire delta antennas, fed at the bottom

and terminated with 600 ohms.

The ionograms were made on 35-mm film, with the recorded

trace being a photograph of a light beam reflected from the mirror of

a string galvanometer. To indicate the time at which the sweep was

made, the image of a drum-dial synchronous clock was exposed on the

film for each ionogram by a solenoid-operated shutter. The time mark

followed the ionogram to which it applied. The date had to be marked

on the film manually.
- 56

Figure 33

The Model A iono sonde in a trailer

0.79 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 8.0 10 12 14 ii I i i iii iiit t I

1000

it: 900

m

Uj 500 -,\

" 400

< 300

H 200- , jf<^,' — 100o-iII I I I " I ^""1 T* I 079 1.0 1.5 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0 6.0 8.0 FRFOUFNCY IN MC/S

Figure 3^

Sample ionogram made with CRFL Model A ionosonde at Patos, Brazil
- 57 -

The complete ionogram with associated time mark occupied two

standard motion picture frames; i.e., 1 x l| inches. The frequency

scale from 0.79 to 1^.0 Mc covered about 1-3/8 inches and the time mark

about l/8 inch. Virtual heights of somewhat more than 1000 km could be

recorded across the width of the film. Frequency marks indicated the

limits of the four bands, but height markers did not appear on the ionograms,

This ionosonde was installed in a trailer and taken to Fort

Clark, Texas, to observe the annular eclipse of the sun on April 7?

19^-0. The expedition was made in cooperation with the National Geographic Society.

On the return trip, the sounder was operated at Keokuk, Iowa

to determine the critical frequency there at the time of failure of

oblique-frequency transmission from San Francisco to Washington. The

critical frequencies at Keokuk and the maximum usable frequency at the

time of failure were compared. Examination of the ionograms indicated

that on undisturbed nights the best transmission from San Francisco to

Washington was by two hops and that the vertical- incidence critical

frequency at Keokuk at the time of failure was consistent with the maximum usable frequency computed by the Bureau. On disturbed nights the

best transmission was by one hop because of the increased height of the

F layer.

This same ionosonde was used by Gilliland to study the total

solar eclipse of October 1, 19^0 at Patos, Brazil, 2i+0 miles from the

coastal city of Pernambuco.

On June 11, 19^1 the Louise A. Boyd Arctic Expedition sailed

from Washington, D. C. on the auxiliary schooner Effie M. Morrissey.

The ionosonde was included with other types of equipment used by the

expedition. Miss Boyd had been made a Consulting Expert of the Bureau,

and was in charge. The route of the expedition was via Brigus, Newfoundland, thence up the west coast of Greenland to latitude 78

o 20* N.

From that point the route was westward into Lancaster Sound to longitude 86°20' W. The return was along Baffin Island and the Labrador

coast, thence to Brigus and New York, arriving there on November 3«

The ionograms obtained during the trip added considerably to the knowledge of the ionosphere.

Until the first quarter of 19^6, this ionosonde was designated as the portable ionosphere recorder. At that time it received

the new designation of the CRPL Model A ionosphere recorder. The

present procedure is to call all such devices ionosondes rather than

recorders.
- 58 -

The Model A ionosonde was used for a time (l9'*l-'i3) at the

NBS field station at Meadows, Md. In August 19^3 it was moved to the

new field site at Sterling, Va„ where it was used until May 19^6, wben

it was sent to the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico to assist

in rocket, experiments. When the White Sands ionosphere station was activated in July 19^ 7, the Model A ionosonde served as the principal

equipment until February 1951> when a CRPL Model C-3 ionosonde was installed. Thereafter the Model A was used as standby equipment until

December 195^-

•

3- Model B ionosonde.

The transmitter installed at Meadows, Md. in October 193^ had

a frequency range of 500 to 2500 kc, and was designed to probe the ionosphere through the broadcast range of frequencies. An externally con- nected chopper served to produce pulses in the transmitter signals.

By May 19^0 this ionosonde had been modified for automatic

operation from 2500 to 10,500 kc, and beginning June 5 it was making

records at half-hour intervals. The ionograms were made on photographic

paper, 3l? inches wide, using an accessory recording unit. Several

inverted-L antennas were used. These were employed over broad frequency "bands for which the antenna was around 1/4-wavelength or 3A~

wavelength, but avoided the frequency bands for which the antenna was

§- or one wavelength. The switching and tuning was done by a rotating

motor-driven switch.

Since the magazines for photographic paper used with the

recorder held only 75 feet, a five-day supply, new magazines holding

200 feet of paper were installed by August I9J+0.

In March 19^-3 the ionosonde was moved to the Beltsville, Md.

field station, and in September 19^3 to the Sterling field station.

By 19^4 the ionosonde had been modified to cover the frequency

range from 0.75 to 11.5 Mc in k bands, with a fifth band "being added in

October 19^6 which increased the upper frequency limit to l6 Mc.

The approximate peak power was 5 kw. The time for one frequency sweep was 3»^ min., with a pulse recurrence frequency of 8 per

sec. A vertical rhombic antenna was used. There were no scales of

frequency or height on the ionogram, and the date and time had to be

added manually. The height range was approximately 1000 km. Photographic paper was used during the operation of the ionosonde at Sterling.

On January 30, 19^7 the Model B ionosonde (so designated in

the early part of 19^6) was destroyed by fire at the Sterling field

station. The fire was believed to have started by a flashover of an rf

choke and augmented by the rf coil insulation.
- 59 - Appendix II

Types of ionosondes used by stations affiliated with IRPL

a. Types developed "by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the

Carnegie Institution of Washington.

1. Automatic multifrequency equipment.

This was a pulse-type ionosonde developed about 1936. It

had a frequency range of from l6.0 Mc to 0.516 Mc in 6 bands (Band 1

went from l6.0 Mc to 11.924- Mc; band 2, from 11.924 Mc to 8.446 Mc;

band 3, from 8.446 Mc to 5.566 Mc; band 4, from 5.566 Mc to 3.284 Mc;

band 5, from 3.284 Mc to 1.610 Mc; and band 6, from 1.610 Mc to 0.516

Mc). The approximate peak power was between 300 and 400 watts. The

pulse recurrence frequency was 10 per sec, with a pulse width of about

100 microsec, and the time for one frequency sweep was 15 min. Each

band required 142.5 sec to traverse, with 7*5 sec between bands for

switching. During the switching period no pulses were emitted.

The height range of the sweeps was 1200 km. At the upper

portion of the ionogram, space was provided (0-500 km) for probing

with a fixed frequency, usually 3«5 Mc.

Photosensitized paper 12 cm wide was used to record the

sweeps. Both the frequency and height sweeps were linear, but without

a scale of either appearing on the ionogram. A vertical resolution of

about 0.66 cm/100 km was ordinarily used.

The antenna system consisted of two horizontal doublets with

550-ohm transmission lines connected to the centers. One doublet was

used for Bands 1 to 4 (l6.0 to 3.284 Mc), and was 30 meters long. The

other was used for Bands 5 and 6 (3.284 to O.516 Mc), and was 125

meters long.

This ionosonde was used at Huancayo, Peru from 1937 "to 1951

at Watheroo, Australia, starting about 1938; and at the Geophysical

Institute of the University of Alaska, from 194l to 1951. The stations

at Huancayo and the University of Alaska later became associated with

the KBS program of vertical- incidence sounding.

2. Manual ionosphere recorder Model 1.

This was a sounder developed by DTM to implement the expanded

U. S. program of ionospheric research, as a result of the establishment

of IRPL at the National Bureau of Standards in 1942.
- 6o -

Figure 35

The automatic multifrequency ionosonde developed "by DTM, CIW

(Photograph supplied through courtesy of DIM, CIW)

I 7

h30 m l7h2S m I7h20m

0.516 I / 2 S*:S CHANGE

3 15 6 7 8 9 SCALE OF FREQUENCY IN MC/SEC

10 II li 13 14 IS 16

Figure 36

Typical ionogram obtained with the DTM automatic

multifrequency ionosonde. (photograph courtesy

of DTM, CIW)
- 61 -

Mariual sweeps were made through a frequency range of 1.2 to

13.2 Mc in four bands (Band 1, from 1.2 Mc to 2.k Mc; band 2, from 2.k

Mc to k.Q Mc; band 3, from k.6 to 8.6 Mc; band k, from 7.6 Mc to 13.2

Mc). The approximate peak power of the transmitter was estimated to be

between 0.5 and 1.0 kw, depending on the operating frequency. The ionosonde unit consisted of the transmitter and a 3-inch oscilloscope tube

for the indicator, plus a modified NC-200 superheterodyne receiver.

Two vertical rhombic antennas were used, one for transmitting and the

other for receiving. The pulse recurrence frequency was 15 per sec.

A special scale for height and frequency was superimposed on

the face of the oscilloscope tube. The time required to plot the information for one sweep varied from 12 to 15 min.

This type of ionosonde was used as supplementary equipment at

Maui, T. H. for a time, and at Palmyra Island from 19*4-6 to 19*4-9.

3. Mslnual ionosphere recorder, modified Model 1.

This was the original manual recorder developed by DTM, but

modified to use a 12- inch cathode-ray tube in place of the Original

3-inch tube. The modifications were made in 19**- 5

The frequency range was from 1.25 Mc to 18.0 Mc, and the

height range was either 500 km or 1000 km. A special scale was superimposed on the face of the oscilloscope tube for scaling the sweep.

The pulse recurrence frequency was 30 per sec, with a pulse

width of 60 microsec. The approximate time required to ploi the information for one sweep was between 12 and 15 min. The approximate peak

power was 500 watts.

This recorder was used at Guam Island from 19^5 "to 19^7>

and at Okinawa Island from 19*4-6 to 19*4-9.

Sometimes this recorder was designated as DTM Model 2.

*4-. Manual ionosphere recorder Model 3.

This sounder was constructed in 19**5 • It consisted of a transmitter and 3- inch oscilloscope, with a separate standard communications receiver having its band-pass interval increased to about 20 kc.

The frequency range of the transmitter was from 1.2 Mc to

about I9.5 Mc in five bands (Band 1 went from 1.2 Mc to 2.3 Mc; band 2,

from l.h Mc to *4-.3 Mc; band 3, from *4-.*»- Mc to 7.2 Mc; band k, from 7.1

Mc to 11.0 Mc; and band 5, from 11.8 Mc to about 19.5 Mc). The actual

frequency range differed between individual sets.
- 62 -

1 I •• . ••«

flf " "*?-*

Figure 37

The modified DTM Model 1 manual recorder

Figure 38

DTM Model 3 manual ionosphere recorder
- 63 -

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- 6k -

The height range of the sweep was either 500 km or 1000 km,

with the latter range starting at 50 km. The pulse width was between

*4-0 and 100 microsec, and the approximate peak power was 2 kw. The

approximate time required to plot the information for one sweep was between 10 and 15 min. A folded doublet antenna was used.

For plotting, a special scale for frequency and height was superimposed on the face of the oscilloscope tube.

This sounder was used at Adak, Alaska from 19*1-5 to 1950; at

Manila, P. I. from 19*4-6 to 19*1-7; at Maui, T. H. from 19*4-7 to 19*1-9; and

at Trinidad, B. W. I., from 19*4-6 to 1951- In 19*1-5 the first three

units of the Model 3 were sent to Adak, Trinidad, and to a site in

China. The one sent to Manila had been Used for training at the NBS

field station at Sterling, Va.

b. British frequency-modulation type 2*4-9.

In 19*4-3, the British Admiralty allocated to DTM four Type 2*4-9 sounders (designed by the National Physical Laboratory) of the frequencymodulation design, as compared to the pulse type sounders developed in

the United States.

In this sounder, the transmitter was tuned rapidly by a motor-driven rotating capacitor through the frequency on which the

receiver was operating. The receiver was therefore subjected to a pulse whose shape and duration depended on the bandwidth of the receiver

and the rate of change of the transmitter frequency. The portion of the

energy in the pass band of the receiver which was radiated and returned

to the installation by the ionosphere was recorded as a pulse.

The frequency modulation method as employed in this equipment

was inefficient as compared to pulse methods, since the transmitter had

to operate continuously and only a portion of the total received energy

was utilized by the receiver. Another disadvantage of the system was

the fact that the effective pulse width was in general not constant,

since the rate of change of the transmitter frequency was not maintained

at a' uniform level over the frequency range. As a result, the height

resolution of the equipment varied over the frequency band employed.

The four Type 2*4-9 ionosondes were modified by DTM and had the

following characteristics after modification :-

The frequency range was from 2.2 Mc to l6.0 Mc in two bands

(Band 1 went from 2.2 Mc to 7.0 Mc; and band 2, from 7.0 Mc to l6.0 Mc).

The height range started at 100 km and went to 850 km, with height

markers spaced at 50 km intervals. The time for one sweep was 1 min,

and the approximate peak power was *4- kw.
- 65 -

Figure kO

The NPL Type 2^-9 frequency-modulation ionosonde

HNWN

Figure ^-1

Type of ionogram obtained with the NPL Type 2^9 ionosonde
- 66 - A row of dots on the upper edge of the 35-mm film used for

the ionograms represented 0.2 Mc intervals of frequency, with the first

dot on the extreme left corresponding to 2.2 Mc. The dots were not

uniformly spaced. The first twenty- five dots occurred at regular

intervals, followed by a second group of forty-six dots, also equally

spaced, but at shorter intervals, though still representing 0.2 Mc

increments in frequency. The two groups of 25 and 46 dots occupied

equal lengths of film. The twenty- fifth and twenty- sixth dots were

more closely spaced than any of the others, and were thus easily distinguishable; both represented a frequency of 7-0 Mc.

In the original design, the film record was t!" inches long,

but this was changed to k inches by the DTM modifications. For the

antenna system, k rhombic antennas were arranged in a vertical plane

and used both for transmission and reception.

The time was indicated by the photograph Of a clock face. A

number on a counter below the clock image indicated the day of the

year; i.e., January 30 would be 030. The year had to be added manually.

The date-time preceded the ionogram to which it applied.

The modified Type 2^9 ionosonde was used at Clyde, Baffin

Island from I9M4- to 19^8; at Reykjavik, Iceland in 19^; at Trinidad

B.W.I, from ±9kk to 19^5; and at Maui, T. H. from 19H to 19^9. Of

these stations, only Maui was under NBS supervision during the time of

use of the Type 2U9 ionosonde.

c. Australian automatic multifrequency ionosonde. (Model Mark V)

This sounder was designed and built about 19^-5 by "the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia for

the Australian Radio-Wave Propagation Committee at the Radiophysics

Laboratory, University of Sydney.

It was a pulse-type sounder, having a pulse recurrence frequency of 60 per sec, and a pulse width of 1^0 microsec. The frequency

range was from 1.0 Mc to 13.0 Mc in four bands (Band 1 went from 1.0 Mc

to 2.1 Mc; band 2, from 2.1 Mc to k-.k Mc; band 3, from k.k Mc to 7.6 Mc;

and band 4, from 7*6 Mc to 13.0 Mc). The time for one frequency sweep was 1.6 min. The frequency scale was logarithmic, and was calibrated

in 0.5 Mc intervals. The height range was 1000 km, in 50 km intervals.

To record the sweeps, 35-mm film was used, each sweep requiring about l-§- inches of film. The time of each sweep was recorded photographically on the film. Two vertical delta antennas were used with the

ionosonde, set at right angles to each other. One antenna was used for

the transmitter and the other for the receiver, each antenna being

terminated by a 1200-ohm resistor.
- 67 -

|HTV- •••• *•**

111*11

Figure k-2

Interior of Palmyra field station, showing the

Australian type ionosonde on the left and the DTM Model 1 manual

recorder on the right

I i f

!

' Figure ^3

-3* - * *» -31

Type of ionogram obtained with the Australian

type ionosonde
- 68 -

This ionosonde was used at Palmyra Island from I9I+6 to 19^9*

The same ionosonde had "been previously used at Christmas Island by

personnel of DTM.

d. Ionosondes developed by various laboratories associated with KBS.

1. Harvard University

This ionosonde was developed about 19^5 and was used by

Cruft Laboratory of Harvard University during the period 19^5-1951

•

It was a pulse type sounder, with a frequency range of from O.79 Mc

to li.O Mc in four bands (Band 1 went from O.79 Mc to 1.62 Mc; band 2,

from 1.62 Mc to 3.34 Mc; band 3, from 3.39 Mc to 6.73 Mc; and band k,

from 6.73 Mc to 1^.0 Mc). Its approximate peak power was 300 watts

and the time for one frequency sweep was one min.

The records were made on photosensitized paper, three inches

wide. There were no scales of frequency or height on the ionogram,

and the date had to be added manually. The height range was approximately 800 km.

For the antenna system, four inverted "L" antennas were used,

each of which resonated at l/k-wavelength for one transmitter band and

3/k-wavelength for another transmitter band.

A system of chain drives was used to switch from one frequency band to another.

2. Leland Stanford University

This sounder was developed about 19^6 and used until May 1951

when it was replaced by the CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency

ionosonde.

The frequency range was from 1.3 Mc to 18.0 Mc in three bands

(Band 1 went from 1.3 Mc to 3.8 Mc; band 2, from 3.7 Mc to 8.2 Mc; and

band 3, from 8.2 Mc to 18.0 Mc). The approximate peak power was 500

watts. The pulse recurrence frequency was 30 per sec, with a pulse

width of 100 microsec. Photographic paper 3-5/8 inches wide was used

for the ionograms. There were no scales of frequency or height on the

ionogram, and both the date and time had to be added manually. The

time for one frequency sweep was k min. 30 sec, with sweeps made on the

hour and half-hour.

The antenna system consisted of two vertical rhombics, used

both for transmitting and receiving, one for the frequency range 1.5

to 8 Mc, and the other for the range 8 to 18 Mc. Each antenna was terminated at the top by a 600-ohm resistor. An open wire transmission
- 69 -

Figure kk

The automatic multifrequency ionosonde developed by

Cruft Laboratory of Harvard University

03^

,-.)-•

Figure V?

Example of ionogram. obtained with the Harvard ionosonde
Figure k-6

Automatic multi frequency ionosonde developed

by Leland Stanford University

-100

Figure ^7

Typical ionogram obtained with the Stanford ionosonde
- 71 -

Figure ^8

Automatic multifrequency ionosonde

developed at Louisiana State University
- 72 -

Figure ^9

The Signal Corps AN/CPQ-7 (XE-l), to left of CRPL Model C-2

automatic raultifrequency ionosonde
- 73 -

line approximately 300 feet long, 8 feet above the ground, and with a surge impedance of 600 ohms was extended to each antenna.

3. Louisiana State University

This ionosonde was developed about 19^6 and was used until

May 1951, when it was replaced with a CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

The sounder had a frequency range of from. 2.62 Mc to 15.68

Mc in three bands (Band 1 went from 2.62 Mc to 4.75 Mc; band 2, from

4.65 Mc to 8.50 Mcj and band 3, from 8.20 Mc to 15.68 Mc). The height

range was 1250 km, and the approximate peak power was 500 watts. The

time for one frequency sweep was 10 minutes. Sensitized photographic

paper, four inches wide, was used for the ionograms.

The antenna system was a conventional delta with base legs

90 feet long, and the tilted legs 110 feet long. Each terminating

resistor was 1200 ohms. The operating frequency of the antenna was

from 2.15 Mc to 18.5 Mc.

k. Signal Corps Type AN/CPQ-7 (XE-l )

This ionosonde was developed about 19^9 • It was an automatic

multifrequency ionosonde, with a frequency range of 1 to 2k Mc. Three

height ranges were provided, for 500, 1000, and 3000 km. The approximate peak power was 7»5 kw. The pulse recurrence frequency was 30 per

sec, and the pulse width could be 10, 50 or 100 microsec. The time for

one frequency sweep was one minute. Sensitized photographic paper, 4-§- inches wide, was used for the ionograms. The height scale was linear,

but the frequency scale depended on the type and shape of the main

tuning condensed. A delta antenna, 90 feet high, was used.

Both a frequency and height scale appeared on each ionogram.

The date and time were represented by numbered wheels. The number of

the day of the year was indicated by three digits, the hour by two

digits, the minute by two digits, and the year by one digit.

This ionosonde was used at Adak. Alaska (June 1950 - January

1951), and at Okinawa Island (November 19^9 - March 1950 ). Three are

still (1957) in use after modifications, one at Cornell University,

one at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and one at Pennsylvania

State University.
7^ -

Figure 50

One stage^ in the development of the CRPL Model C-l ionosonde

Figure 51

A typical ionogram made with the CRPL Model C-l ionosonde
- 75 -

Figure 52

The prototype CRPL Model C-2 automatic

multi frequency ionosonde

; r

Figure 53

Typical ionogram ootained with the prototype

CRPL Model C-2 iono sonde
- 76 -

Appendix III

Development of the CRPL Model C lonosonde

1. The Model C-l

This was an lonosonde which employed a heterodyne method

similar to that used in the NBS Model A lonosonde, in that the receiver

and transmitter were linked to a heat-frequency arrangement. It was

designed by Sulzer and incorporated his idea of untuned receiver input

and transmitter circuits.

It had a frequency range from 1.0 to 20.0 Mc, and an approximate peak power of 2 kw. Ionograras were made on 35-*mni film, but there was no scale of frequency or height on the ionogram. The time of a sweep was obtained by photographing a lady' s wrist watch along with the

sweep record. The date had to be added manually.

This lonosonde was installed aboard the U.S.S. Canisteo in

the fall of 19^6 for use by the U. S. Navy in the Byrd Antarctic Expedition "High Jump". A delta-type antenna was set up on board the ship,

in its final form composed of legs 355-ft. long. Soundings were made

at 15 -minute intervals from December 28, 19^6 to March 9> 19^7 as the

ship changed position during the trip.

In May 19*1-7 "the lonosonde was returned to the NBS field station at Sterling, Va., where it was reassembled and used in place of

manual equipment which had replaced the Model B lonosonde destroyed by

fire in January 19^- 7

•

In August 19^7 the Model C-l ionosonde was again lent to the

U. S. Navy for use on an Arctic expedition, and was returned in September of that year.

2. The Model C-2

The experience gained in the development of the CRPL Model

C-l ionosonde was used in the design of an improved model, the CRPL

Model C-2. The prototype C-2 was completed in time to be used In the

Army Air Forces-National Geographic Society Eclipse Expedition to

Bocayuva, Brazil, to study the solar eclipse of May 20, 19^7.

It was the first completely automatic ionosonde to use, in

continuous heavy duty, the heterodyne pulse transmitter arrangement

described by Sulzer. The transmitter consisted of a series of wideband amplifiers fed by the output of a mixer. The mixer produced a beat frequency between two oscillators, one a continuous-wave oscillator variable in frequency from 31 to 5^ Mc, the other a pulsed oscillator at a fixed frequency of 30 Mc.
- 77 -

Figure 5^-

Production model of the CRPL Model C-2 ionosonde

Voltage regulator not shown

Figure 55

Typical ionogram obtained with the production model

of the CRPL Model C-2 ionosonde
- 78 -

The entire frequency range of 1 to 2k Mc was covered continuously without switching bands, through an arrangement of cams. The

receiver was tuned with the transmitter throughout its frequency range.

The time for one frequency sweep was 7§-, 15, or 30 sec, with pulse

widths of 50 or 100 microsec, and a pulse recurrence frequency of 30 to

120 per sec.

A special 35-mm camera, driven by the motor that operated

the transmitter oscillator made a continuous film record of the indications of the recording oscilloscope. As the image of the sweep line

was oriented at right angles to the direction' of film travel, the graph

of height reflection (time delay) versus frequency was recorded on height scales of 500, 1000, or 1+000 km. Both height and frequency

markers were present on each film record, as well as the date and time

of each sweep,

A standard l6-mm motion picture camera was provided to photograph the monitoring oscilloscope. A series of such film records, made

at Tl" or 15- sec intervals, over a long period of time, provides a striking accelerated version of the changes taking place in the ionosphere .

The main cabinet of the ionosonde had no moving parts, but

enclosed the transmitter mixer, transmitter wide-band amplifier,

receiver mixer, receiver intermediate frequency unit with detector and

video stages, pulsing and keying circuits for the transmitter, the

transmitter fixed frequency unit, and all the power supplies for these

units.

A smaller cabinet on rollers contained the recording and monitoring oscilloscopes, the recording 35-mm camera, the variable-frequency

oscillator, the camera and oscillator drive motor, switches and their

associated controls, time-base and sweep- generator circuits, and the

necessary power supplies.

Other features of the C-2 ionosonde were : a pulse receiver

having large dynamic range and a differentiating circuit to minimize

interference by CW and broadcast stations, provision for automatic

operation by a clock completely independent of power-line frequency,

the use of hermetically sealed units to insure reliable operation in

many climates, and regulation of every important direct-current voltage.

After use in the study of the solar eclipse at Bocayuva,

Brazil, the prototype C-2 was returned to the NBS field station at

Sterling, Va., where it was placed in operation in July 19^7.

The satisfactory performance of the prototype CKPL Model C-2

ionosonde caused the Bureau to place it in production through a commercial organization, the Communications Measurement Laboratory of
- 79 -

Figure 56

The CEPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde, installed

in a trailer, with Rolfe H. Utz of the MBS staff making

an adjustment.
- 80 -

CZJUL 6

•H

Tiowog

•Honi oo

0) -p

43+3

•H>

CD •H

CO -P8

cd

faO oo

•H

rH

<ti O

•H
- 81 -

Whippany, N. J. By late October of 19^8 the first production model of

the C-2 was given acceptance tests at the Sterling, Va. station. Electrically the production model was similar to the prototype C-2, but

with a single cabinet housing all parts except the voltage regulator.

Also, the frequency range of the production model was extended to 25 Mc.

Height markers and frequency markers were present on the ionograms, made on 35-TMn film for the routine soundings. The height

markers were spaced 50 or 100 km apart, depending on the height range

used. Frequency markers were present for each megacycle, from 1.0 to

25.0 Mc. At the end of each sweep appeared the so-called print time

information, consisting of the station designation, the date and the

time of the sweep. Although the peak power of this ionosonde varied

with the frequency it was rated approximately at 10 kw. A multiplewire delta antenna was employed.

3. The Model C-3

In the latter part of 1950, the CRPL Model C-3 ionosonde was

developed. While it had the same fundamental features as the Model C-2,

a number of basic improvements were incorporated:

a. Time delays were added for voltage stabilization, which

resulted in more uniform ionograms.

b. The safety features of the control and protective circuits were improved.

c A heavy duty, rugged, automatic voltage regulator auxiliary unit was added for use with varying power line

voltages.

d. The pulse generator was modified for better linearity of

the height markers and vernier control of the pulse rate

frequencies (PRF).

e. The VF0 (variable frequency oscillator) was redesigned

so that the frequency unit was isolated from the transmitter. The AFM output (automatic frequency marker) was

taken from the oscillator stage, while the transmitter

was driven from a 2E26 amplifier stage.

f

The receiver was given front panel controls for varying

the time constant of the differentiating circuit in five

steps, from approximately 10 microsec to 1000 microsec.
- 82 -

Figure 5$

The CRPL Model C-k- automatic multifrequency ionosonde

(Photograph courtesy of Barker and Williamson)
- 83 -

g. The transmitter, ATX, was modified for more efficient

operation by decreasing the final plate voltage from +8

kv to +5 kv, while the screen voltage on the three high

power ATX stages was increased from +600 v to +1000 v.

h. The automatic print time assembly was modified and

greatly improved for reliability of operation, ease of

adjustment and instant identification of date time without opening the camera assembly.

k. The Model C-k

The need for additional ionosondes for proposed IGY stations

provided the stimulus for the design of an improved Model C ionosonde

called the CEPL Model C-k ionosonde.

The major changes in the C-k design as compared to the Model

C-3 were:

a. Electrostatic deflection instead of magnetic deflection,

as in the C-2 and C-3, was used with the oscilloscope

tubes for improved linearity of the oscilloscope presentation.

b. The height marker oscillator was made crystal-controlled

for maximum accuracy.

c. The receiver had higher gain and improved noise characteristics.

d. The transmitter was simpler and provided greater power

output

e. Most of the individual sub-units were mounted on roller

slides so that they could be removed easily to facilitate

maintenance

fThe control and sweep circuits were consolidated into one unit and designed for greater flexibility in program

selection and automatic receiver gain programming.

g. The Model C-k ionosonde was one complete package, whereas

Models C-2 and C-3 consisted of two units.
- 8k -

Lf\

•H

CD ti

Pio

CQOao

•H

-=fI OH

(D KO

0) ^

-Psi-pH

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fn

fciO o

PioHH

COo

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- 85 -

Appendix IV

Details of Operation of Field Station

ADAK, ALASKA

Operations began at this station October 8, 19^5> under the

Department of Terrestrial Magnetism of the Carnegie Institution of

Washington. In July 19*^6 CRPL took over the operation of the station.

In the early part of November 19*4-7, the U. S. Army Signal Corps

assumed operation of the Adak station. Since January 8, 195^-j this

station has been operated under the direction of the United States

Army Signal Radio Propagation Agency at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Equipment used :

From October 19*4-5 through April 1950, DTM Model 3 manual recorder.

From May 1950 through January 1951> Signal Corps automatic multifrequency ionosonde Model AN/CPQ-7 (XE-l), with DTM manual

recorder as supplementary equipment.

Since February 1951, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde .

NBS Personnel in charge ;

Alton 0. Crawley, July 19*4-6 to November 19*4-6. Sidney M. Ostrow, November 19*4-6 to June 19*4-7. Lloyd A. Lohr, June 19*17 to November 19*4-7.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

This station was activated in March 19*4-9 and has always been

operated by CRPL. The first complete tabulations of data from Anchorage were for April 19*4-9.

Equipment used :

From March 19*4-9 to March 1951, CRPL Model C- 2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Since March 1951, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.
- 86 -

I — -

Figure 60

The Adak, Alaska field station

(U. S. Army photograph)

Figure 6l

The Anchorage, Alaska field station
- 87-

NBS Personnel In charge :

Vernon H. Goerke, March 19^9 to March 1950.

Joseph H. DeGregorio, March 1950 to May 1950.

Alton 0. Crawley, May 1950 to February 195^-.

Robert W. Knecht, February 195^ to September 195^.

Stephen S. Barnes, September I95U to July 1957.

Martin E. Nason, since July 1957'

BAGUIO, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

Operations began at this station March 5> 1952. It is operated

by the Manila Observatory, and is regarded as an associated laboratory

of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used ;

Since the start of operations, a CRPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde, with C-3 auxiliary power unit.

BARROW, ALASKA

This station was activated by CRPL in November 19^9> and has

always been operated by CRPL.

Equipment used ;

Since the start of operations, a CRPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

NBS Personnel in charge :

Lloyd A. Lohr, November 19^9 to December 1950.

Joseph H. DeGregorio, December 1950 to June 1951.

Robert W. Knecht, June 1951 to August 1951.

Joseph H. DeGregorio, August 1951 to December 1952.

Albert D. Krall, December 1952.

Wesley H. Daniels, December 1952 to September 1953

Bernard Wieder, September 1953 to October 195^

Donald M. Waters, October 195*4- to February 1956.

William C. Waribaugh, February I956 to July 1957.

Harry E. Petrie, since July 1957.
- 88 -

Figure 62

The Baguio field station

Figure 63

The Barrow, Alaska field station
- 89 -

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA (Louisiana State University)

Operations began at this station in July 19^-3 and ceased September 1, 1953- From May 19^6 to September 1953 it was operated by personnel of Louisiana State University as an associated laboratory of

the National Bureau of Standards. Prior to this time the operation

was carried on as part of the Department of Electrical Engineering of

the University.

Equipment used :

From July 19^-3 to about December 19^6, a locally assembled Ionosonde, with a frequency range of 1.9 to 9*8 Mc.

From December 19^6 to May 1951* a locally assembled ionosonde,

with frequency range from 2.6 to 15^7 Mc.

From May 1951 to September 1953, a CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (Harvard University)

Operations began at this station about March 19^5 hy the Cruft

Laboratory of Harvard University. Until June 1951 it was operated as an associated laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used :

Locally assembled automatic multifrequency ionosonde, with a frequency range of . 79 to l^t- . Mc

COCOA, FLORIDA

Operations began at this station in January 1952 and ceased the

latter part of September 1952. It was operated by the U. S. Army Air

Force at Patrick Air Force Base. A station was reestablished in this

general location ('Cape Canaveral) in late 1957 by tne u« s « Signal

Corps.

Equipment used :

CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.
90

•H

PR o

•H

-P

co -p

CO

<d

rH

<D •H<h

!>s +3

•H

CO

Jh

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CO

-s*l •

P>4 §

•H

-P

CC3 -P

CO

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Ch

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CD

COa

CO •H

CQ •HO

1-3
- 91 -

FAIRBANKS, ALASKA (Geophysical Institute of the

University of Alaska)

While ionospheric research had "been carried on at this location

during the Second International Polar Year in 1932-33; The Department

of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington entered

on a regular program of ionospheric soundings in April 19^1. On July 1,

19^6 the station operation was transferred to the University of Alaska,

at which time it also became an associated laboratory of the National

Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used :

From July 19^-1 to March 1951^ DTM automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Since March 1951 > CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

GODHAVN, GREENLAND

Regular operation of this station began November 1, 1951 • It' is

under the control of the Danish URSI Commission and is considered an

associated laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used;

Since the start of operations, a CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

GUAM, MARIANA ISLANDS

This station was installed under the supervision of the U. S. Navy.

Operations were begun in December 19^5 hy the U. S. Army Signals Corps.

On June 6, 19^-6, Harold N. Cones was designated by CRPL as engineer-incharge of the station. The station was deactivated April 30, 1956 and

the ionosonde moved to Maui, T. H.

Equipment used :

From December 19^5 through December 19^7, DTM Model 2 (Modified

Model l) manual recorder.

From January 19^8 to close of operations, CRPL Model C-2 automatic

multifrequency ionosonde.
- 92 -

Figure 66

The Fairbanks, Alaska field station

Figure 67

The Godhavn, Greenland field station
- 93 -

MBS Personnel in charge ;

Harold N. Cones, June 19*4-6 to October 19*4-6. Harry G. Sellery, October 19*4-6 to January 19*4-8. Lloyd A. Lohr, January 19*4-8 to December 19*4-9. H. 0. Wehner, December 19*4-9 to February 1950.

H. C. Carmichael, February 1950 to November 1950.

W. J. Christian, December 1950 to January 1951.

Stephen S. Barnes, January 1951 to April 1951*

Lloyd A. Lohr, April 1951 to December 1952.

Stephen S. Barnes, January 1953 to May 195**-

John J. Pitts, June 195*4-. Alton 0. Crawley, July 195**- to April 1956.

HUANCAY0, PERU

Operations began at this station in November 1937* Through

October 19*1-7 the station was operated by the Department of Terrestrial

Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington. Since November 19^7 "the

Geophysical Institute of Huancayo has operated the station as an associated laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used ;

From November 1937 to December 1951, DTM automatic multifrequency

ionosonde

Since December 1951, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde

MANILA, PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

This station started operations in August 19*4-6 and was inactivated

August 15, 19*4-7. It was operated by NBS personnel.

Equipment used ;

DTM Model 3 manual recorder.

NBS Personnel in charge ;

Mrs. M. L. Phillips, August 19*4-6 to November 19*4-6. J. J. Murray, November 19*4-6 to May 19*4-7. The station was inoperative after May 19*4-7.
- 9k

Figure 68

The Guam field station

i

Figure 69

The Huancayo, Peru field station
- 95 -

MAUI, TERRITORY OF HAWAII

Operations began at this station in March 19^- Until July 1S&6

it was operated by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie

Institution of Washington. At that time CRPL took over the operation

of the station.

Equipment used ;

From March 19^ through February 19^7* National Physical Laboratory Type 2^9 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

From March 194 7 to August 15, 19^7, DTM Model 3 manual recorder.

From August 15, 19^7 through June 19*4-9, National Physical Laboratory Type 2^9 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

From June 19^9 to February 1951, CRPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde. The use of the NFL Type Zk-9 and the

Model C-2 overlapped in June 19^9*

From February 1951 through July 1956, CRPL Model C-3 automatic

multifrequency ionosonde

Since September 1957, CRPL Model C-^ automatic multifrequency

ionosonde.

NBS Personnel in charge :

Lester E. Kendall, July 19^6 to April 19*4-7. Leo W. Honea, since April 19^7.

FORT MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY

Operations were initiated at this station by the U. S. Army Signal

Corps at Belmar, N. J., July 1, 1950. The station was moved to Fort

Monmouth, N. J. about August 17, 1953, still under the supervision of

the Signal Corps. In December 1957 the site was changed to Middletown,

N. J. This station serves as the training center for ionospheric

soundings of the U. S. Army Signal Corps. January 8, 195^ it was

placed under the direction of the United States Armv Signal Radio Propagation Agency.
- 96 -

Figure 70

The Maui ionosphere station

ig^-^PI

Figure 71

Fort Monmouth field station

(U. S. Army photograph)
-97-

Equipment used :

Prom July 1950 to June 195^, CRPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Since July 195^ > CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde,

Since January 1958, CRPL Model C-k automatic multifrequency ionosonde .

NARSARSSUAK, GREENLAND

Operations "began at this station in September 1950* Until May 10,

1957 i"t was operated "by CRPL. In August 1957 "the station was reactivated by the Danish URSI Commission as an associated laboratory of the

National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used :

CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

NBS Personnel in charge :

George S. Burkholder, July 1950 to September 1950.

Robert F. Biloon, September 1950 to March 1952.

Earl E. Ferguson, March 1952 to November 1953 • Mr* Ferguson

set up the station in 1950.

Leonard F. Marcus, November 1953 to December 195^

Harry E. Petrie, December 195^ to May 1957-

OKINAWA ISLAND

Operations began at this station April "J, 19^6. It wag operated

by the U. S. Army Signal Corps until January 8, 195^ when it was

placed undei* the direction of the U. S. Signal Radio Propagation

Agency at Fort Monmouth, N. J.

Equipment used :

From April 19^6 through October 19*4-9, DTM Model 2 (modified

Model l) manual recorder.

From November 19*4-9 to March 1950, Signal Corps Model AN/CPQ-7

(XE-l) automatic multifrequency ionosonde, supplemented by

the DTM Model 2 manual recorder.
- 98

Figure 72

The Narsarssuak, Greenland field station

Figure 73

The Okinawa field station

(U.S. Army photograph)
- 99 -

Since September 1950, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency

ionosonde.

PALMYRA ISLAND

Operations "began at this station in July 19^6 and ceased November

25, 19*1-9. The station was operated by CRPL.

Equipment used :

From November 19^6 to November 19^-9* DTM Model 1 manual recorder.

From December 19^-6 to November 19^9* Australian type automatic

multifrequency ionosonde. The first film ionograms were made

on December 2h, 19^-6.

NBS Personnel in charge :

Leo W. Honea, July 19^-6 to April 19^7.

Vernon H. Goerke, April 19^7 to June I9U8.

Stephen S. Barnes, June 19^-8 to September 19^9*

James E. McMillan, September 19^9 to December 19^-9

PANAMA CANAL ZONE

Operations began at this station June 1, 1951. It has always been

operated by CRPL. The station replaced the one at Trinidad, B.W.I.

Equipment used :

CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

NBS Personnel in charge :

Richard F. Carle, October 1950 to May 1956. Actual production of

ionograms did not start until June 1951.

Alton 0. Crawley, since May 1956.

Note: This station was closed on December 2k, 1958*
100 -

Figure 7^

The Panama field station

Figure 75

The Puerto Rico field station
- 101 -

PUERTO RICO

Operations began at this station in February 19*4-1 i Through December 1950 it was operated by the University of Puerto Rico at Rio

Piedras. In 19*4-9 T. R. Gilliland of NBS was transferred to Puerto Rico

from Washington to inspect and secure detailed information on the most

favorable and available sites for the establishment of a radio propagation field station. By December 1950 suitable quarters had been com- pleted at Ramey Air Force Base and the work of the University of Puerto

Rico was terminated by the end of that month. The first ionograms made

with a CRPL Model C-3 ionosonde were for January 1951. The University

of Puerto Rico was considered an associated laboratory of the National

Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used:

From January 19*4-3 to June 19*4-5 > a manual recorder, locally built.

From July 19*^5 to October 19*4-7, and from March 19*4-6 to January 1951, an automatic multifrequency ionosonde, locally built.

Since January 1951^ CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency Ionosonde.

NBS personnel in charge :

Theodore R. Gilliland, since August 19*4-9.

REYKJAVIK, ICELAND

From February 19*4-*4- to the end of July 19*4-5 the station was operated

by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of

Washington. On January 1, 1950 the station was reactivated and has been

operated since that date by the Icelandic Post and Telegraph System as an associated laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used ;

February 19*4-*4- to July 19*4-5, National Physical Laboratory Type 2*4-9 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Since January 1950, CRPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde, on 50-cycle power supply.
- 102 -

Figure 76

The Reykjavik, Iceland field station

>' . - -

•

; . ~* *

•"• '•.'•;

Figure 77

The Stanford University field station
- 103 -

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (Leland Stanford University)

Operations began at this station in February 19^2.. Since May 19*4-6 it has been an associated laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used :

From February 19^2 to November 19^-6, locally assembled ionosondes.

From December 19^6 to May 1951; a locally assembled automatic

multifrequency ionosonde

.

Since May 1951* CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

ST. JOHNS, NEWFOUNDLAND

From May 19^5 to July 195^ this station was operated by the

Canadian Department of Transport for the Radio Physics Laboratory.

In January 1957 the station was reactivated at a new site as a cooperative IGY project of Canada and the United States. The station is

operated by the United States Army Signal Ionosphere Station, Newfoundland, under the direction of the United States Army Signal Eadio Propagation Agency at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Equipment used ;

From May 19^5 to July 195*1-, Canadian Type LG17 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

From January 1957; CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

TALARA, PERU

Operations began at this station October 9> 195**-. It is operated

by the Geophysical Institute of Huancayo, Peru and is an associated

laboratory of the National Bureau of Standards.

Equipment used:

Since start of operations, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency

ionosonde.
- IQk

Figure 78

The St. Johns, Newfoundland field station

(U. S. Army photograph)

*

*

k

•

J

i i

l "v * I

\

, T1

.. . "7-X 1

Figure 79

The Talara, Peru field station
- 105 -

THULE, GREENLAND

Operations began at this station in February 1956*. It is a cooperative IGY project of Denmark and the United States. The station is

operated by the United States Army Signal Ionosphere Station, Thule,

under the direction of the United States Army Signal Radio Propagation

Agency at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Equipment used :

From start of operations until April 3, 1957/ CRFL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Since April 3, 1957, CRPL Model C-^ automatic multifrequency ionosonde .

TRINIDAD, B.W.I.

Operations began at this station in February 19^ and ceased

June 21, 1951. Until July 19*1-6, the station was operated by the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington.

From that time until the close of operations, the work was under the

supervision of CRPL.

Equipment used :

From February l^kk to December 19*1-5, National Physical Laboratory

Type 2^9 automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

From January 19^6 to May 1951* DTM Model 3 manual recorder.

NBS personnel in charge :

Richard F. Carle, July 19^6 to October 1950.

J. S. Noble, October 1950 to June 1951.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

This station has always been designated as the Washington field

station, although the site has been at various times at Kensington, Md.,

Beltsville, Md., Meadows, Md., Sterling, Va. and Ft. Belvoir, Va. (See

Section III 2) Work at the Washington station began with the measurement of virtual heights of the ionosphere near Kensington, Md. in 1929*

with the pulse transmitter located at the Naval Research Laboratory,

Bellevue, D. C. Details of the work at the various locations has been

previously described.
- 10 6 -

Figure 80

The Thule, Greenland field station

(U. S. Army photograph)

Figure 8l

The Sterling, Va. field station
- 107 -

Equipment used :

From December 1929 to June 1930, fixed frequency pulse transmitter

at Naval Research Laboratory, Bellevue, D. C. and virtual

height recorder near Kensington, Md.

Prom July 1930 to August 1932, variable frequency pulse transmitter of 500 watts power used for fixed frequency measurement of virtual heights, usually on *f-0*»-5 kc, at Potomac Yards,

north of Alexandria, Va. The receiver was located at the NBS

field station near Kensington, Mi.

Prom August 1932 to March 1933, fixed frequency transmitter (*J-100

kc) of 250 watts output used for measurement of virtual

heights, with transmitter and receiver operated alongside in

the same room for the first time. This combination was first

used at the NBS station, near Kensington, Md., and later at the

NBS site near Beltsville, Md.

From March 1933 to September 1933* and intermittently thereafter,

a variable frequency pulse transmitter, 1 kw output and with

a frequency range of 1750 to 25,000 kc (later reduced to 1600

kc), operated manually at Beltsville. The recorder was operated at Meadows, Md.

From April 1933 to October 19*1-1, the NBS first automatic multifrequency ionosonde (2.5 to k.k Mc range). It was operated at

the Beltsville field site until about May 1935 > and was then

moved to the field site at Meadows, Md.

From October 1934 to January 19*»-7, the NBS Model B ionosonde.

First installed at Meadows, Md. with a frequency range of

500 to 2500 kc. Modified by May 19*1-0 to have a frequency

range of 2500 to 10,500 kc. Used at the Beltsville field

station from March 19*4-3 to September 19*1-3, when it was moved

to the Sterling field station. By 19**-**- the ionosonde had

been modified to cover the frequency range from 0.75 to 11.5

Mc, and another modification in October 19*1-6 which increased

the upper frequency limit to l6 Mc. This ionosonde destroyed

by fire at the Sterling field station on January 30, 19*1-7.

From fall of 19*1-1 to February 19*1-3, NBS Model A automatic multifrequency ionosonde, used at Meadows site.

March 19*1-3, NBS Model A automatic multifrequency ionosonde used at

Beltsville site.
- 108 -

.From August 19*43 to May 19*4-6, NBS Model A automatic multifrequency

ionosonde used at Sterling site.

From February 19*4-7 to June 11, 19*4-7, DTM automatic multifrequency

ionosonde, together with a manual recorder, used at Sterling

site to replace the NBS Model B ionosonde destroyed by fire

in January 19*+ 7

•

From June 9, 19*4-7 to August 19*4-7, CRPL Model C-l automatic multifrequency ionosonde used at Sterling site.

From June 12, 19*4-7 to June 1950, CEPL Model C-2 automatic multifrequency ionosonde, first used at the Sterling site (l9**-7-19**-9)j

then at the Fort Belvoir site (19*4-9-1950).

From June 1950, CRPL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde

used at Fort Belvoir site. Use of the CRPL Models C-2 and C-3

overlapped in June 1950.

NBS personnel in charge :

Prior to 19*4-3> the various stations were all generally under the

direction of Dr. J. H. Dellinger. The Kensington station was established by Mr. T. Parkinson about I926 or 1927* When Mr.

Parkinson left NBS about 1930, S. S. Kirby directed the work

of the Meadows and Beltsville stations, except for the standard frequency work under W. D. George. After Mr. Kirby'

s

death in 19*4-1, among those working part time at Meadows and

Beltsville were Dr. Newbern Smith, Fred Gracely, S. E. Reymer,

Elbert B. Judson and Archer S. Taylor. Mr. T. R. Gilliland

was also associated with these stations.

Archer S. Taylor, from fall of 19*4-1 to August 19*4-3. Edward J. Wiewara, August 19*4-3 to June 19*4-6. Rolfe H. Utz, June 19*4-6 to January 19*4-7. Edward J. Wiewara, January 19*4-7 to April 19*4-7. M. L. Johnson, May 19*4-7 to August 19*4-7. Edward J. Wiewara, August 19*4-7 to December 19*4-9. David H. Sands, December 19*4-9 to March 1950.

Alvin H. Morgan, April 1950 to July 1951.

Allan P. Stansbury, August 1951.

H. C. Carmichael, September 1951.

Edward J. Wiewara, since September 1951.
- 109 -

va*

Figure 82

The Ft. Belvoir field station

Figure 83

The White Sands, New Mexico field station

(U. S. Army photograph)
- 110 -

WHITE SANDS, NEW MEXICO

In May 19^6 the NBS Model A ionosonde was sent to White Sands

Proving Grounds, New Mexico, to be used in the V-2 rocket tests con- ducted by the Army and Navy. The ionosonde was installed in a trailer,

and occasional soundings were made until July 19^7, when the station was activated as a CRPL field station. In June 19^7 "the ionosonde was

shifted from the trailer to a building within the Post area. On September 1, 1951 the U S. Army Signal Corps took over the operation of the

station. Since January 8, 195^ this station has been operated under the

direction of the United States Army Signal Radio Propagation Agency at

Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Equipment used :

From June 19^6 to February 1951, NBS Model A automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

From March 1951 to December 1, 1951, NBS Model A ionosonde used as standby equipment.

Since March 1, 1951, CKFL Model C-3 automatic multifrequency ionosonde .

NBS personnel in charge :

Edward J. Wiewara set up the mobile station in June 19^6.

Alton 0. Crawley, December 19^6 to May 191+7.

Edward J. Wiewara, May 19*f7 to August 19^7.

Allan P. Stansbury, August 19^7 to July 19^8.

Earl E. Ferguson, July l$k8 to December 19^9.

Edward J. Wiewara, December 19^9 to September 1951.
- Ill -

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- 118 -

Appendix VII

References

Section I . Historical Summary to 1927

Kennelly, A, E., "On the elevation of the electrically conducting

strata of the earth 1 s atmosphere". Elec. World and Eng.

15, 473 (1902).

Heaviside, 0., "Telegraphy". Ency. Brit. 9th Ed ., 33, 215 (1902).

Lorentz, H. A., "Theory of electrons", (Leipsic, 1909).

Eccles, W. H., "On the diurnal variations of the electric waves

occurring in nature and on the propagation of electric

waves round the bend of the earth". Proc. Roy. Soc . A,

87, 79 (1912).

Watson, G. N., "The diffraction of electric waves "by the earth".

Proc. Roy. Soc . A, 95, 83 (1918).

Watson, G. N., "The transmission of electric waves around the

earth", Proc. Roy. Soc . A, 95, 5*4-6 (1919 )•

Larmor, J., "Why wireless electric waves can bend round the earth",

Phil. Mag . 48, 1025 (1924).

Appleton, E. V., and Barnett, M. A. F., "Local reflection of wireless waves from the upper atmosphere". Proc. Roy. Soc . A, 109, 621 (1925).

Breit, G., and Tuve, M., "A test of the existence of the conducting layer", Phys. Rev . 28, 554 (1926).

Appleton, E. V., "Geophysical influences on the transmission of

wireless waves", Proc. Phys. Soc . ( London ), 37, l6D

(1925).

Nichols, H. W., and Schelleng, J. C., "Propagation of electric

waves over the earth", Bell Sys. Tech. J., h, 215 (April

1925).

Watson-Watt, R. A., "Winter in the ionosphere", Nature , 129, 76I

(May 21, 1932).

Breit, G., "A suggestion of a connection between radio fading and

small fluctuations in the earth's magnetic field", Proc.

IRE, 15, 709 (August 1927).
- 119 - References: Section I . (cont'd)

Appleton, E. V., "The existence of more than one ionized layer in

the upper atmosphere", Proc. URSI, Part 1, p. 2 (October

1927).

Appleton, E. V., "Wireless studies of the ionosphere", Jour. I.E.E .

(London ), 71, 6k2 (1932).

Appleton, E. V., and Naismith, R., "Some measurements of upperatmospheric ionisation", Proc. Roy. Soc . A, 137, 36 (1932).

Section II. 1 . Measurements of virtual heights at fixed frequencies.

Kenrick, G. W., and Jen, C. K., "Measurement of the height of the

Kennelly-Heaviside layer", Proc. IRE, 17, 711 (April 1929).

Gilliland, T. R., "Kennelly-Heaviside layer height ohservations for

*K)lj-5 and 8650 kc", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 5, 1057 (l930)j

Proc. IRE, 19, No. 1, 11*J- (1931).

Gilliland, T. R., and Kenrick, G. W., "Preliminary note on an automatic recorder giving a continuous height record of the

Kennelly-Heaviside layer", Bur* Stds. J. Res. 7, 783

(1931 )', Proc. IRE 20 , 5^0 (1932).

Gilliland, T. R., Kenrick, G. W., and Norton, K. A., "investigations of Kennelly-Heaviside layer heights for frequencies

between 1600 and 8650 kc/sec", Bur. Stds. J. Res . 7, IO83

(1931).

Gilliland, T. R., "Continuous measurements of the virtual heights

of the ionosphere", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 11, 1^1 (1933).

Kirby, S. S., Berkner, L. V., and Stuart, D. M. "Studies of the

ionosphere and their application to radio transmission",

Proc, IRE, 22, No. k, M3l (193*0.

Judson, E. B., "Construction and operation of Type B 1-kw transmitter, frequency range 500-2500 kc/s". Report R 355 j

of Div. 1, Sec. 6 NBS, September 18, 193^.

Section II. 2a - The first NBS automatic multifrequency ionosonde.

Gilliland, T. R., "Note on a multifrequency automatic recorder of

ionospheric heights", Bur. Stds. J. Res., 11, 1^1 (1933)

J

Nature , 133, 57 (January 13, 193*0

.
- 120 - References: Section II. 2a (cont'd)

Gilliland, T. R., Kirby, S. S., Berkner, L. V., and Norton, K. A.,

"Radio observations of the Bureau of Standards during

the solar eclipse of August 31, 1932 )> Bur. Stds. J. Res . 11, 829 (1933); Proc. IRE 22, 2*1-7 (193*0^

Gilliland, T. R., "Multifrequency ionosphere recording and its

significance", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., lA, 283 (1935).

Kirby, S. S., Gilliland, T. R., and Judson, E. B., "ionosphere

studies during partial solar eclipse", Phys. Rev , k^f, No. 8 , 632 (1935).

Kirby, S. S., Gilliland, T. R., and Judson, E. B., "ionosphere

studies during partial solar eclipse of February 3> 1935'S

Bur. Stds. J. Res ., l6, 213 (l936)j Rroc. IRE, 2h, No. 7

1027 (1936).

Kirby, S. S., Gilliland, T. R., Smith, N., and Reymer, S. E., "The

ionosphere, solar eclipse and magnetic storm", Phys. Rev . 50, 258 (1936).

Section II. 2b - The Model A ionosonde

Gilliland, T. R., and Taylor, A. S., "Field equipment for ionosphere measurements", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 26, 377 (May

19^1).

Gilliland, T. R., and Taylor, A. S., "ionosphere studies during

the annular eclipse of April '], 19^-0". A paper presented

by N. Smith at a Joint meeting of the Institute of Radio

Engineers and the American Section of URSI, April 26,

19^0.

Smith, N., "Predictions of normal radio critical frequencies

related to solar eclipses in 19**-0". Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 2h, 225 (19^0).

Gilliland, T. R., "ionosphere observations at the 19*1-0 eclipse in

Brazil". Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, k^2 (19*4-1 ).
- 121 - References: Section III. 1 . - IEPL Organization and functions

1. Operation of stations sponsored by the Department of Terrestrial

Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington

Final Report on U. S. Army Signal Corps Contract W-10^9-sc-805.

Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington (October 19^6). (This report describes the various field stations installed by DTM CTW

in the course of the expansion of the U. S. ionospheric

program, 19kh-k6)

Wells, H. W., and Berkner, L. V., "ionospheric research at Huancayo

Observatory, Peru, January 1938-June 19I+6", Researches of

the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Vol. XI,

Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 175 (19^7)

Seaton, S. L., Wells, H. W. , and Berkner, L. V., "ionospheric

research at College, Alaska, July 19^1-June 19^6",

Researches of the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism,

Vol. XII, Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 175 (19^7).

Berkner, L. V., and Wells, H. W., "ionospheric research at Watheroo,

Western Australia, June 1938-June 19^-6", Researches of

the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Vol. XIII,

Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication 175 (19^8 )•

2. The Operation of the Inter service Radio Propagation Laboratory

Dellinger, J. H., and Smith, N., "Developments in radio sky-wave

research and application during the war", Proc . IRE, 36,

258 (19W).

Section III. 2 . - The longitude effect

Smith, N., "The longitude effect in F2-layer characteristics",

Presented at May 3, 19^6 meeting of URSI-IRE.

Section III. 3a (2) Manual ionosphere recorder Model 1

"Description of and instructions for manual multifrequency standby

equipment", Department of Terrestial Magnetism, Carnegie

Institution of Washington, October 23, 19^3.
- 122 - References: Section III. 3a (3) Manual ionosphere recorder, modified

Model 1

"Communications Liaison Branch, Radio Propagation Section, Model 1,

Manual Multifrequency Ionospheric Recorder", Prepared for

DTM, CIW by T/U P. G. Sulzer, Radio Propagation Unit,

Holabird Signal Depot, Baltimore Md. (February 19, 19^5)*

Section III. 3a (k) Manual ionosphere recorder Model 3

George, D. E., "instructions for installation and operation of

manual multifrequency ionospheric recorder DTM CIW Model

3", September 6, 19^5 (revised November 8, 19^5).

Section III. 3b - British frequency-modulation Type 2^9

"Technical description and operating instructions for radio equipment Type 2^9 (to N.P.L. design)", RD573, Baddow

Research Laboratories, West Hanningfield Road, Great

Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex (December 19*+2).

"Errata and addenda to technical description and operating instructions for radio equipment Type 2k$ (to N.P.L. design",

KD573 (Supplemental) Baddow Research Laboratories, Section "S", West Hanningfield Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex (April 19^3).

"Technical description and operating instructions for radio equipment Type 2k-9 (to N.P.L. design)", DTM CIW Appendix B to

RD573; Dept. of Terres. Mag. Carnegie Inst, of Wash.

(July 19^3).

Sulzer, P. G., "ionosphere Measuring Equipment", Electronics 19, 137 (July 19^6).

Section III. 3c - Australian model Mark V automatic multifrequency

ionosonde

Higgs, A. J., Report No. PD 25/2 in Coun. Sci. Ind. Res. Org.

Australia.

Mitra, S. K., "The Upper Atmosphere", (published by the Asiatic

Society, Calcutta, 1952).

IRPL C-27 - "Characteristics of ionospheric observing systems"

(April 23, 19MO.

Section III. 3d - U. S. Signal Corps. Type AN/CPQ-7 (XE-l)

"Instruction book for ionosphere recording set AN-CPQ/7 (SC-l)",

Made for the Dept. of the Army, Signal Corps, by Maryland Electronic Manufacturing Corporation, College Park,

Md.
- 123 -

References: Section IV. 1 - Determination of maximum usable frequencies

Kirby, S. S., Berkner, L. V., and Stuart, D. M., "Studies of the

ionosphere and their application to radio transmission",

Proc. IRE, 22, kQl (193*0.

Smith, N., Kirby, S. S., and Gilliland, T. R., "Recent correlations

between the ionosphere and high frequency radio transmission"- (Paper presented at the joint meeting of IRE and

URSI, Washington, D. C, May 1, 1936).

Smith, N., "Extensions of normal- incidence ionosphere measurements

to oblique- incidence radio transmission", Bur. Stds. J. Res., 19, 89 (1937).

Smith, N. , "Application of vertical-incidence ionosphere measurements to oblique- incidence radio transmission", Bur . Stds. J. Res ., 20, 683 (1938).

Smith, N., "The relation of radio sky-wave transmission to ionosphere measurements", Proc. IRE, 27, 332 (1939).

Smith, N., Kirby, S. S., and Gilliland, T. R., "Application of

graphs of maximum usable frequency to communication

problems", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 22, 81 (1939).

Section IV. 2 - Sudden ionosphere disturbances

Quack, E., and Mogel, H., "Echoes, single and multiple, on short

waves", E.N.T., 6, k-5 (February 1929).

Mb'gel, H., "Field strength measurements in England of German shortwave stations", Wireless Eng . , 8, 60k (l93l). This is an abstract of the author's paper in German in E.N.T., 8,

321 (August 1931).

Bellinger, J. H., "A new cosmic phenomenon", Science 82, 351

(October 11, 1935).

Dellinger, J. H., "A new radio transmission phenomenon", Fhys. Rev . kQ, 705 (1935).

Dellinger, J. H., "Confirmation of cosmic phenomenon", Science 82,

5^8 (December 6, 1935).

Dellinger, J. H., "New radio transmission phenomenon", QST 19, 21

(December 1935).
- 12^ -

References; Section IV. 2 (cont'd)

Dellinger, J. H., "A new solar radio disturbance", Electronics , 9>

25 (January I936).

Dellinger, J. H., "New cosmic phenomenon", QST, 20, 8 (January 1936)

Dellinger, J. H., "High-frequency radio fade-outs continue", QST, 20, 37 (June 1936).

Dellinger, J. H., "Direct effects of particular solar eruptions on terrestrial phenomena", Phys. Rev., 50, H89 (1936).

Dellinger, J. H. , "Radio fade-outs through 1936", QST, 35 (February 1937).

Dellinger, J. H., "Sudden ionosphere disturbances", Terr. Mag, and

Atmos. Elec , k2, ks (1937).

Dellinger, J. H., "Disturbances of the ionosphere", Jour. Appl . Phys., 8, 732 (1937).

Dellinger, J. H., "Sudden disturbances of the ionosphere", Bur . Stds. J. Res ., 19, 111 (1937) j Proc. IRE, 25, 1253~TOctober 1937). These papers summarize the results of observations from the middle of 1935 to the end of 1936.

Section IV. 3a - Prediction of Critical Frequencies

Judson, E. B., "Comparison of data on the ionosphere, sunspots,

and terrestrial magnetism", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 17, 323

(1936). _

Smith, N., Gilliland, T. R., and Kirby, S. S., "Trends of characteristics of the ionosphere for half a sunspot cycle",

Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 21, 835 0-938).

Smith, N., "Predictions of normal radio critical frequencies

related to solar eclipses in I9W, Bur. Stds. J. Res ., 2k f 225 (19^0).

-IRPL Report R-4, "Methods used by the Inter service Radio Propagation Laboratory for the prediction of ionospheric characteristics and maximum usable frequencies" (19^3).

-IRPL Report R-8, "The prediction of usable frequencies over a path

of short or medium length, including the effects of Es"

(1<M).
R eferences: Section IV. 3a (cont'd)

Ghopley, A. H,, "An estimate of the trend of solar activity, I9UU50", Terr. Mag., h-9 , hj (19IA).

Phillips, M, L., "A nomographic method for both prediction and

observation correlation of ionosphere characteristics",

IRPL Report R-ll (19^5).

-IRPL Report R-l6, "Predicted F2-layer frequencies throughout the

solar cycle, for summer, winter and equinox season (.19^5)

-IRPL Report R-23, "Solar-cycle data for correlation with radio

propagation phenomena" (19^-5 )-

-IRPL Report R-25, "The prediction of solar activity as a basis for

the prediction of radio propagation phenomena" (l9'+5)«

Phillips, M. L., "The ionosphere as a measure of solar activity"

IRPL Report R-26 (19^5).

Section V. 1 - Organization and function of CRPL

-"President Elsenhower dedicates NBS Boulder Laboratories", NBS

Tech. News Bull. 38 , No. 11, l6k (November 195*0-

Section V. 2a - Model C-l

Sulzer, P. G., "ionosphere measuring equipment", Electronics , 19,

137 (July 19^6).

Sulzer, P. G., "Sweep frequency ionosphere equipment", J. Appl . Phys . , 20, 187 (19^9).

Section V. 2b - Model C-2

Sulzer, P. G., "ionosphere measuring equipment", Electronics , 1£,

137 (July 19^6).

-"Model C-2 ionosphere recorder", NBS Tech. News Bull. 3-1 , No. 10,

(October I9V7).

Section V. 2c - Model C-3

Carroll, J. M., "Automatic ionosphere recorder", Electronics, 2j?,

No. 5, 128 (1952).
- 126 - References: Section V. 3

- Antenna testing and design

Cones, H. N., "impedance characteristics of some experimental

broad-band antennas for vertical incidence ionosphere

soundings", Bur. Stds. J. Res ., k£, 71 (19^9).

Cones, H. N., Cottony, H. V., and Watts, J. M. , "A 600-ohm multiplewire delta antenna for ionospheric measurements", Bur . Stds. J. Res ., Uk, U75 (1950).

Cones, H. N., "Effect of a metal mast and guy wires on the performance of the 600-ohm multiple-wire delta antenna", Bur . Stds. J. Res ., M k6, 113 (1951).

-"NBS model antenna range", MBS Tech. News Bull ., 35, 17^ (1951 )•

Section V. 6 - Data inspection

-"Radio transmission and the ionosphere", NBS Letter Circular

LC-6l^ (October 23, 19IK)).

-"iRPL radio propagation handbook, Part i", Joint Communications

Board, Inter service Radio Propagation Laboratory (November 15, 19^3).

Morgan, A. H., "Preliminary instructions for obtaining and reducing manual ionospheric records", CRPL Report 7-1 (June

15, 19^7).

-"ionospheric radio propagation", NBS Circular k62 (June 25, 19*1-8).

Gladden, S. C, "Procedures used to improve the quality of ionospheric data", Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 35, No. 3>

398 (195*0.

Wright, J. W., Khecht, R. W., and Davies, K., "ionospheric vertical

soundings", Annals of the International Geophysical Year,

Vol. II, Part I, Pergamon Press, London (1957).

Wright, J. W., and Knecht, R. W., "Atlas of Ionograms", compiled

for the URSI/AGI Special Committee on World Wide Ionospheric Soundings. Produced at the Central Radio Propagation Laboratory, NBS, Boulder, Colorado (1957).
- 127 - Section V. 7

- Improvement and extension of prediction methods.

-CRPL Series D, Basic radio propagation predictions, Monthly,

(since September 19^-).

-CRPL Series Ja, Semi-monthly frequency revision factors for CRPL

basic radio propagation prediction reports. (since

March 19^5).

-"Prediction of maximum usable frequencies", NBS Tech. New3 Bull , No. 350, k-6 (June I9A6).

Norton, K. A., "Methods for the long range prediction of sunspot

activity", CRPL Report *J--3A (May 19^7).

-"instructions for the use of basic radio predictions", NBS Circular lj-65 (August 19^-7).

Phillips, M. L., "The ionosphere as a measure of solar activity",

Terr. Mag, and Atmos. Elec , 52, 321 (19^7).

Norton, K. A., "Sunspots and very high frequency radio transmission",

QST, 31, No. 12 , 13 (19^7).

-"High frequency radio propagation charts for sunspot minimum and

sunspot maximum", CRPL Report 1-2, 3-1 (December 19^7)

-"High frequency radio propagation charts for sunspot minimum and

sunspot maximum. Supplement to CRPL Report 1-2, 3-l",

CRPL Report 1-2, 3-lA (November 19^8).

-"ionospheric prediction aided by use of antipodal points", NBS

Tech. News Bull ., 33, kk (19^9).

McNish, A. G., and Lincoln, J. V., "Prediction of annual sunspot

numbers", Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 30, 763 (19^9).

White, G. R., and Potter, R. F., "Prediction of ionospheric conditions for antipodal stations", Trans. Amer. Geophys . Union, 30, 686 (19^9).

Ostrow, S. M., and PoKempner, M. , "The differences in the relationship between ionospheric critical frequencies and sunspot

number for different sunspot cycles", J. Geophys. Res ., 57, ^73 (1952).

Ostrow, S. M. , "On the paper 'Maximum usable frequencies and

lowest usable frequencies for the path Washington to

Resolute Bay'", J. Geophys. Res., 59,

^

(195^).
- 128 - References ; Section V. 7 (cont'd)

McNish, A. G., and Lincoln, J. V., "Predictions of the present sun- spot cycle", Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 35, 709 (195I*).

Bishop, J., "Predicting radio reception", Wall Street Journal, southwest edition, January 8, 1957*

Section V. 8 - Radio Warning Services

-CRPL Series J, "Advance forecast of radio propagation conditions

(North Atlantic area). Semi-Weekly" . (since January

19^3).

-"Sunspots and radio communication", NBS Tech. News Bull ., No. 3^8> 25 (April 19l*6).

-Radio Propagation disturbance warning", NBS Tech. News Bull., No . 3*4-9 , 38 (April 19l*6).

-"Statistical method of predicting sunspots aids radio propagation

forecasts", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 31, 99 (19** 7).

Shapley, A. H., and Lincoln, J. V., "Some methods for general prediction of sudden ionospheric disturbances", CRPL Report

1-3 (December 191*7).

Lincoln, J. V., and Shapley, A. H., "Correlation of coronal and geomagnetic observations, I9I***-1*6", Trans . Amer . Geophys . Union, 29, 81*9 (19^8).

-"WWV radio storm warning", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 33, 117 (19^9 ).

-"Radio disturbance warnings", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 3J*, 13 (1950).

-"Preliminary report of solar activity", High Altitude Observatory

of the University of Colorado and NBS, Boulder, Colorado

Weekly (since November 1950).

Smith, N., "influence of the sun on the ionosphere", Proc. Amer . Acad. Arts and Scl ., 79, 181 (l95l).

-"World-wide observations of solar activity", NBS Tech. News Bull . 35, 93 (1951).

-CRPL Series Jp, "Advance forecast of radio propagation conditions

(North Pacific area). Semi-weekly", (since October 1951).
- 129 - References: Section V. 8 (cont*d)

-"North Pacific radio warning service", MBS Tech.. -News Bull ., 36 , 33 (1952).

-"New radio propagation disturbance warnings", NBS Tech. News Bull . 36> 95 (1952).

Section V. 9 - Vertical soundings at low frequencies

Sulzer, P. G., "ionosphere measuring equipment", Electronics , 19, 137 (19^6).

Brown, J. N., and Watts, J. M. , "ionosphere observations at 50 kc",

J. Geophys. Res ., 55, No. 2, 179 (1950).

Watts, J. M. , and Sellery, H. G., "Vertical- incidence ionosphere

recorders as a source of interference", CRPL Preprint

50-27, May 1950.

Watts, J. M. , and Brown, J. N., "Effects of ionosphere disturbance

on low frequency propagation", J. Geophys . Res . , 56, No.

3, 1+03 (1951).

Watts, J. M. , "Note on the polarization of low frequency ionosphere

echoes", J. Geophys. Res., 57, No. 2, 287 (1952).

Kilpatrick, E. L., "Polarization measurements of low frequency

echoes", J. Geophys. Res ., 57, No « 2 > 221 0-95 2 )'

Blair, J. C., Brown, J. N., and Watts, J. M., "An ionosphere

recorder for low frequencies", J. Geophys. Res ., 58, No.

1, 99 (1953).

-

?I A low-frequency ionosphere recorder", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 37> 60 (1953).

Watts, J. M. , and Brown, J. N., "Some results of sweep-frequency

investigation in the low frequency band", J. Geophys . Res., 59, No. 1, 71 (195*0.

Kilpatrick, E. L., "A technique for sweep-frequency polarization

measurements at low frequencies", J. Geophys . Re

. , 59,

No. 3, 3^5 (195*0.

"""""~~~ ~~~
- 130 - References: Section V. 10 - Ionospheric research

1. Ionospheric absorption .

Taylor, E. W., "Absorption of radio waves reflected at vertical

incidence as a function of the sun's zenith angle", NBS

J. Res , kl, 575 (19^8).

Agy, V. L., "Location of the auroral absorption zone", J. Geophys . Res ., 59, 267 (195*0.

Agy, V. L., "Motion of the storm-D region", Nature (London), 173, kk5 (195*0.

-Agy, V. L., "Geographic and temporal distribution of polar blackouts", J. Geophys. Res ., 59, ^99 (195*0-

Chapman, S., and Little, C. G., "The non-deviative absorption of

high-frequency radio waves in auroral latitudes", J.

Atmos. and Terres. Phys ., 10, 20 (1957).

2. Sporadic E.

-"Variations in sporadic-E ionization observed at Washington, D.C.",

NBS Tech. News Bull ., 350, 6l (August 19*4-6).

Phillips, M. L., "Variations in sporadic-E ionization observed at

Washington, D. C." Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 28 , 71

(19^7).

Pineo, V. C., "Relation of sporadic E and meteoric ionization",

Science 110, 280 (19*1-9).

Pineo, V. C., "A comparison of meteor activity with occurrence of

sporadic-E reflections", Science 112 , 50 (1950).

Knecht, R. W., "Relationships between aurora and sporadic-E echoes

at Barrow, Alaska", J. Geophys. Res ., 6l, 59 (1956).

Smith, E. K., "World-wide occurrence of sporadic E", NBS Circular

582 (1957).

3. F2 layer .

McNish, A. G., and Gautier, T. N., "Theory of lunar effects and

midday decrease in F2 ion-density at Huancayo, Peru",

J. Geophys. Res. , 5^, l8l (19*4-9).

White, G. R., and Wachtel, I. S., "True heights of the F2 layer",

J. Geophys. Res ., 5^, 239 (19^9).
- 131 - Eeferences; Section V. 10 (cont'd)

3. F2 layer (cont'd)

McNish, A. G., and Gautier, T. N., "Lunar ionospheric variations

at low-latitude stations", J. Geophys. Res ., 5**, 303

(191*9).

Gautier, T. N., Khecht, R. W., and McNish, A. G., "Lunar stratification of the F2 layer at Huancayo, Peru", Proc. Gen . Assem. URSI, September 11- 22, 1950, VIII, 216 (1950).

Phillips, M. L., and Moore, H. S., "Dispersion of F2-layer critical

frequencies", Proc. IRE, 39, 717 (1951 )•

1*. Solar phenomena .

Shapley, A. H., and Roberts, W. 0., "Observations of the solar

corona at Climax 19^-^—46", CRPL Report 1-1* (February

IShQ).

Shapley, A. H. , "Reduction of sunspot-number observations", Publ . Astron. Soc. Pacific , 6l, No. 358, 13 (19^9).

Shapley, A. H., and Davis, R. M., "Solar eruption of May 10, 19^9",

Science , 110, 159 (19^9).

Agy, V. L., "ionospheric effects produced by solar flare radiation",

Phys. Res ., 102 , 917 (1956).

Wood, M. B., "A study of magnetic maps of the sun", Astrophys . J.

124, 1*1*7 (1956).

5. Eclipse studies.

-"Brazilian eclipse expedition", MBS Tech. News Bull ., 31, 57 (19^7)

Savitt, J., "Recombination and attachment in the F region during

the eclipse of May 20, 19^7", J. Geophys. Res ,, 55, 385

(1950).

-"Alaskan eclipse expedition", NBS Tech. Nevs Bull ., 35, 17 (1951).

6. Ionospheric winds .

Salzberg, C. D., and Greenstone, R., "Systematic ionospheric winds",

J. Geophys. Res ., 56, 521 (l95l).

-"Winds in the ionosphere", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 35, 178 (l95l).

Greenstone, R., "Radio measurement of winds aloft", Aero Dig ., 6k,

No. 2, 56 (1952). ~"
- 132 - References; Section V. 10 (cont'd)

7. General .

Feinstein, J., "The limiting polarization of magneto- ionic waves",

IRE Trans, on Ant. Prop . AP-3 , 19 (1952).

Lawrence, R. S., "Continental maps of four ionospheric disturbances", IRE Trans, on Ant. Prop . AP-3 , 167 (1952); J^. Geophys.~Res. , 58, 219 (1953)

.

Feinstein, J., "The nature of gradient reflections", IRE Trans, on

Ant. Prop AP-ll , 2 (1952).

Feinstein, J., "Wave propagation in an anisotropic, inhomogeneous

medium", J. Geophys. Res ., 58, 223 (1953).

Gallet, R. M. , "Aerodynamical mechanisms producing electronic

density fluctuations in turbulent ionized layers", Proc . IRE, ^3, No. 10, 12^0 (1955).

Gautier, T. N., "The ionosphere", Sci. Amer . 193, No. 3, 126 (1955).

Wait, J. R., and Perry, L. B., "Calculation of ionospheric reflection coefficients at very low radio frequencies", J.

Geophys. Res ., 62, No. 1, k-3 (1957).

8. Miscellaneous publications .

-CRPL Series F., Part A. "ionospheric data", Monthly (since September l$hk).

-"ionospheric radio propagation", NBS Circular ^62 (June 19^8).

-CRFL Series F, Part B, "Solar-geophysical data". Monthly, (since

November 1955).

Slutz, R. J., "Atmosphere research, International Geophysical Year",

in the Americana Annual 195 1> an encyclopedia of the

events of 1956", New York, Americana Corporation, p. 60

(1957).
- 133 - References: Section VI

1. The Second International Polar Year .

Henry, A. J., "The first international polar year of August 1882

to August 1883", Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 12, 8l

(1931).

Kimball, H. H., "The second international polar year, 1932-33",

Trans. Amer. Geophys, Union, 12 , 8l (l93l)«

-Monthly and annual reports, Division 1, Section 6, National

Bureau of Standards, 1932-33*

Fleming, J. A., "Progress report on the international polar year

of 1932-33", Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, lA, 1*1-6 (1933).

-"Polar Year report of the National Bureau of Standards, August 7j

193^n

$ presented at the General Assembly of URSI in

London, September 193^, IV, k-2 (193*0.

2a. The general program .

-"The international geophysical year", NBS Tech. News Bull ., 39,

139 (1955).

Wright, J. W., Khecht, R. W., and Davies, K., "ionospheric vertical

soundings", Annals of the International Geophysical Year,

Vol. Ill, "IGY Instruction Manual", The Pergamon Press

(1956).

Shapley, A. H. , "Clues to ionospheric conditions In the southern

auroral zone", based on a symposium on the Antarctic

co- sponsored "by the U. S. National Committee for the IGY

of the National Academy of Sciences, American Geophysical

Union, p. 86, Washington (1956), Geophysical Monograph

No. 1, National Research Council Publication No. k62.

Shapley, A. H., "The ionosphere IGY program in the Arctic", URSI

Information Bulletin No. 98 , 29, July-August 1956.

Wright, J. W., and Knecht, R. W., "Atlas of ionograms", NBS

Boulder Laboratories (I957).

-"NBS participation in the International Geophysical Year", NBS

Tech. News Bull., k±, No. 9, I36 (September 1957).

Shapley, A. H., and Slutz, R. J., "Probing the Ionosphere", Geophysical Monograph No. 2, p; 45, National Research

Council Publication No. 590, Washington (1958).
- 131*- - References: Section VI (cont'd)

2b. World Warning Agency.

-"IGY World Warning Agency", NBS Tech. News Bull ., ja, No. 5, 1

(May 1957).

-"NBS participation in the International Geophysical Year", NBS

Tech. News Bull ., kl, No. 9, I36 (September 1957).

2d. Data processing .

-"NBS participation in the International Geophysical Year", NBS

Tech. News Bull . ^1, No. 9, 136 (September 1957).
I .s. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Frederick H. Mueller, Secretary

\ \TIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

A. V. Asiin, Director THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The scope of activities of the National Bureau of Standards at its major laboratories in Washington. D.C., and

Boulder, Colorado, is suggested in the following listing of the divisions and sections engaged in technical work.

In general, each section carries out specialized research, development, and engineering in the field indicated by

its title. A brief description of the activities, and of the resultant publications, appears on the inside of the front

cover. WASHINGTON, D.C.

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Astronomy and Arctic Propagation.

Radio Propagation Engineering. Data Reduction Instrumentation. Modulation Research. Radio Noise. Tropospheric Measurements. Tropospheric Analysis. Propagation Obstacles Engineering. Radio-Meteorology. Lower Atmosphere Physics.

Radio Standards. High Frequency Electrical Standards. Radio Broadcast Service. High Frequency ini- edance Standards. Electronic Calibration Center. Microwave Physics. Microwave Circuit Standards. Radio Communication and Systems. Low Frequency and Very Low Frequency Research. High Fre- quency and Ven High Frequency Research. Ultralligh Frequency and Super High Frequency Research. Modulation Research. Antenna Research. Navigation Systems. Systems Analysis. Field Operation-.
NBS