As an electromagnetic wave propagates through the ionosphere, it experiences -among other effects- scintillation, and dispersion, leading to signal distortion and potential degradation performance in radar applications. Ionospheric scintillation introduces random fluctuations in intensity and phase, impacting the accuracy and reliability of spaceborne radar sounders used for subsurface probing, particularly in the VHF band. This study employs a physics-based ionospheric model to analyze their impact on VHF radar sounder signals. Using the phase screen model derived from Rino’s theory, we simulate perturbations of the wavefront under varying ionospheric conditions. The results provide insights into the influence of ionospheric turbulence on VHF radar observations, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate these effects and enhance radar data interpretation.

Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto GENESIS: GNSS Environmental and Societal Missions–Subproject UPC bajo la beca PID2021-126436OB-C21 de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ y por el proyecto INTREPID del Institut d’Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC).

Peer Reviewed