An ionospheric scatter mode associated with the earth's magnetic field

Experiments were carried out at 106 and 206 megacycles to demonstrate that E layer ionospheric scatter signals can be obtained at VHF when transmission geometry satisfies specularity with the Earth's magnetic field. A burst type signal is found to be a daily occurrence. The bursts last about ten or twenty seconds and are further distinguished from the fractional second meteor bursts by a rapid fading from onset. H scatter correlates well diurnally and seasonally with sporadic meteor activity. At oblique incidence receiving sites with favorable geometry, the H scatter duty cycle is much larger than can be obtained from the normal meteor bursts.