[50mhz] [PNWVHFS] Update Cycle 24

[N6FD]

Bill,

I might suggest that the recently observed phenomena of sprites and blue 
jets may be the cause.  The research has shown that electrical 
discharges go far up into the ionosphere from intense electrical storms. 
They ionize the atmosphere at 50-100km.  The literature doesn't really 
say how intense the ionization is from a radio reflection or refraction 
standpoint, but it does cause a visible glow.  Once again this is an 
area where hams could make a contribution to science by noting 
propagation anomalies during intense thunderstorms.

Erich, N6FD


On 11/23/2010 2:05 PM, Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO wrote:
> Pete,
>
> As more and more inexplicable things are observed about E-layer propagation
> on 6 meters, I'd be the last one to suggest that any idea is ridiculous. (I
> used to think that way, when I was a 6m newbie and thought I knew it all.)
> What is clear is that metallic meteors constantly drizzle into the
> atmosphere... They ablate, ionize (providing meteor-scatter propagation),
> and then slow down enough to recapture electrons, all at around 90 km up or
> so, plus or minus... And then, sometimes, they get themselves turned into
> ions again, seemingly in a variety of ways. And It is pretty clear at this
> point that we really don't understand all the ways this reionization can
> happen.
>
> There is ample evidence that high-speed horizontal wind shear at about this
> height is responsible for a lot of the ionization that we call sporadic-E --
> but what causes the wind shear? What causes it to be seasonal? What causes
> it to happen more often at certain places on Earth and less often at other
> places (if that is actually true)? What part (if any) is played in these
> anomalies by irregularities in Earth's geomagnetic field? What part (if any)
> is played by coronal mass ejections during intense solar activity? What part
> (if any) is played by energetic events that occur in the troposphere or
> stratosphere? Some of these questions have hypotheses (and in a few cases
> some half-decent theories) attached to them, but we're a long way from
> understanding how it all works together.
>
> So no ridicule from me. If somebody can come up with a reasonable model that
> suggests how tropospheric weather events can cause ionization of metallic
> atoms at 90 km or so up, I'd love to hear it. So far, I haven't seen any,
> but that in itself means nothing except that I am ignorant -- either more
> ignorant than scientists who know better, or at worst, just as ignorant as
> scientists who know no more than I do. :-)
>
> Bill W5WVO
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pete
> Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 16:36
> To: doc at kd4e.com
> Cc: 50 MHZ Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [50mhz] [PNWVHFS] Update Cycle 24
>
> Doc,
>
> I have often observed brief 6m openings while centered precisely between or
> on the edge of severe WX fronts, and was ridiculed for suggesting a
> connection, only because no hard data exists. Weather (and any propagation
> phenomena as a result) just changed too fast for a reasonable study... until
> now perhaps. Computer programming and capability have improved tremendously
> since I discussed this last around 1987. Maybe someone will pick up the
> torch.
>
> Fifteen to twenty years ago, I remember a (2 part?) article in QST about
> this very topic, (severe thunderstorm fronts?) but aside from anecdotal and
> circumstantial events, I seem to recall that the theory was left unresolved,
> again mostly due to insufficient data. The article entertained the
> possibility that shear and front patterns may be what's RESPONSIBLE for
> producing ionization at VHF regions to stimulate Es as we know it, and NOT
> that the annual Es seasons happen to fall during the times of year we get
> the most violent weather.
>
> The subject may have since been revisited in a publication I haven't seen or
> heard about, and anyone on the list can tell me if it has; I'd like to know.
>
> One thing for sure; even if there ever comes a time when everything about 6m
> propagation becomes completely understood and predictable, it will never
> lose its charm for me as the Magic Band.
>
> -Pete / NL7XM
> _________________________
> ʎɐqǝ uo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ı ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐן ǝɥʇ sı sıɥʇ
>
> <doc at kd4e.com>  wrote:
>> Some 6M openings appear to be related to storm-fronts, it may be worth
>> making a study of geographically-regional openings cross-tabbed with
>> different types of weather patterns.
>>
>> It may prove an insufficiently-linked association to represent a
>> predictable pattern ... or maybe there are some associations to be
>> discovered for some 6m propagation forecasting.
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