V. V. Paznukhov

The ARTIST 5

Version 5 of the Automatic Real-Time Ionogram Scaler with True height (ARTIST), an intelligent system developed at UMLCAR for extraction of ionospheric specification data from Digisonde ionograms, entered its operational phase in May 2007. Version 5 implements the classic ARTIST techniques re-vamped for modern computers and programming environments, as well as new approaches developed to strengthen the ARTIST performance. This paper describes progress in the ionogram autoscaling research at UMLCAR that has culminated into release of the ARTIST 5 software.

Advancing Digisonde Technology: the DPS-4D

A new ionosonde, the Digisonde model DPS-4D, replaces the aging DPS-4. Faster computer hardware and operating systems together with digital transmitters/receivers provide unprecedented measurement flexibility, data precision, and signal processing gain. The novel features in this latest Digisonde are discussed and explained.

Digisonde Drift Analysis Software

This paper introduces a newly developed conceptual Java-based software package for the digisonde drift data analysis and visualization. This package replaced the less versatile Fortran-based applications previously developed at UMLCAR. A dedicated database intended for raw and processed drift data storage, access, and exchange has also been established and is described in this paper.

Precise Radar Range Measurements with Digisondes

A digisonde phase-difference technique measures precise radar ranges of echoes reflected from the ionosphere. The technique, which analyzes the phase differences between signals at slightly different frequencies, allows measuring the reflection range, i.e., the virtual height h′(f) for vertical sounding, with accuracies of better than one kilometer. First results of measurements carried out at Millstone Hill demonstrate the robustness and reliability of the developed technique, and show the potential of the method for routine application.