The HF propagation model, North Ionospheric Model and Ray Tracing (NIM-RT) was developed and tested for a number of years by comparing measured vertical and oblique ionograms over a number of radio links (especially in high latitude area) with the simulated ionograms. The present paper extends the model in order to include: (a) Implementation of the data retrieved from the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2012) model into the software for radio channel modeling.(b) The algorithm for IRI data optimization to the real time condition.(c) Results of comparison between simulated and measured ionograms. Based on these updates, a new software tool called North Ionospheric Model with IRI and Ray Tracing (NIMIRI-RT) was developed, and a number of vertical ionograms corresponding to multiple ionospheric reflections was simulated. The vertical ionograms observed at various ionosondes were compared with the synthesized ionograms, generated by applying NIM-RT in conjunction with initial and optimized IRI data. The ionogram structure simulated by NIMIRI-RT based on the data retrieved from optimized IRI is more reminiscent to the observations than ionograms synthesized with the initial NIMIRI-RT without parameters optimization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2252-2267
Number of pages16
JournalAdvances in Space Research
Volume60
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Nov 2017

    Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Space and Planetary Science

    Research areas

  • High-latitude ionosphere, IRI, NIM-RT model, Propagation HF waves, Vertical ionogram

ID: 36166506