Polar

Temperate

Equatorial

Equatorial anomaly.

In the equatorial ionosphere, due to

the fact that the Sun radiates in an
orthogonal fashion over the Equator,
it should be expected that the
ionization maximums occur in this
area. However, measurements show
that those maximums occur at
magnetic latitudes between 10 and
20,
phenomenon
known
asequatorial anomalyor Appleton
anomaly.

Turbulences and
FAI
.

Another characteristic of the equatorial

ionosphere is the generation, around sunset,
of turbulences shaped as bubbles, known as
equatorial plasma bubbles (EPB), whose
density of ionization is low compared to the
surrounding areas.
As the bubbles rise, they are aligned with
the geomagnetic field (parallel to the Earth's
surface in this region, as stated before),
following the magnetic North-South lines.
This is the reason they are called also field
aligned irregularities (FAI), and can spread
along the magnetic field line several
thousand kilometres.

 The

ionosphere is the uppermost part of the atmosphere, it

is ionized by solar radiation.

Ionization is converting an atom or molecule into an ion by

light (heating up or charging) from the sun on the upper

atmosphere.

Creates an horizontally stratified

medium where each

layer has a peak density and a definable width, or profile.

Thus, it influences radio propagation

Based on the hours they occur during a day;

The characteristics of aTEP are:

o Maximum useable frequency (MUF) up to about 60 MHz, which is
usually about 15 to 25 MHz above the 2F mode frequency for the
same path.
o Occurs from around 1500 to 1900 local time. It is more prevalent
near the equinoxes and at times of high sunspot number.
o Typical path lengths will be from 5000 to 6500 kilometres.
o Signals will normally be strong with limited fading and distortion
(from multipathing or Doppler spread).

The characteristics of evening TEP are:

oOccurs around 2000 to 2300 local time, and is more frequent around
the equinoxes and especially at times of high sunspot number.
oAlthough signal strengths are high, the signal is subject to deep and
rapid fading and very strong distortion (from multipathing and large
Doppler motions). Doppler spread up to 2kH has been observed on a
CW signal.
oPath lengths may vary from 3000 to 8000 kilometres.
o Frequencies supported are higher than for aTEP and may very
occasionally rise into the low UHF band.