Radio Wave Propagation and Solar Eclipse William Liles lilesw@gmail.com Photo from nasa.gov
Does a solar eclipse affect radio wave propagation? If so, how? Why do we care? http://space.rice.edu
Image from nasa.gov
Image from ofcom.org.uk
Image from http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu
How does a solar eclipse affect radio wave propagation below 500 kHz?
WWVB Transmitter Colorado 60 kHz 24/7 US Government Time and Frequency Transmitter Images from nist.gov
How does a solar eclipse affect 60 kHz radio wave propagation?
Need to receive and process spatially diverse signals before/during/after eclipse Data collection Phase #1 Data collection Phase #2 Data collection Phase #3 t = 0 Eclipse event
Requirements Inexpensive Easy to obtain materials Easy to build (12 year old and up) Easy to use Collects needed data (what data?) Structured for analysis Website with instructions
System View Location Services Antenna Receiver Analog Analog To Digital Receiver Digital Processing Comms Comms Backend Services Data Analysis Insights Publications
Images from nist.gov
Backend Given data from collection site, how is that matched to ionosphere conditions (total eclipse, partial, none)? What is the best way to show the effect across the US on a map?
Great site for VLF information Useful sites Official site for WWVB www.nist.gov Great site for VLF information www.vlf.it
Dr. Jill Nelson George Mason Univ. Dr. Laura Lukes George Mason Univ. Collaborators Dr. Jill Nelson George Mason Univ. Dr. Laura Lukes George Mason Univ.
Questions