Model computations of radio wave scintillation caused by equatorial ionospheric bubbles

TLDR: In this paper, the effects of radio propagation through equatorial ionospheric bubbles are simulated by solving the parabolic equation numerically, and the results show that even though the amplitude scintillation at 136 MHz appears to be stationary, such is not the case at gigahertz frequencies.

Abstract: In situ data measured on board AE satellites and rockets reveal spiky and wedgelike electron density structures inside the equatorial ionospheric bubbles. Two models are constructed to simulate the initial stage and fully developed stage of a bubble. Effects of radio propagation through such bubbles are simulated by solving the parabolic equation numerically. The results show that even though the amplitude scintillation at 136 MHz appears to be stationary, such is not the case at gigahertz frequencies. Instead, the amplitude at gigahertz frequencies shows outbursts with large excursions whenever the direct ray intersects the spicky ionization structure. Both the peak-to-peak excursion and the amplitude distribution cannot be predicted by the scintillation theory that assumes the medium to be random.