Comparative study on prediction methods of ionospheric absorption attenuation

This paper compares and analyzes the methods of using the ITU semi-empirical model and three electron impact models to predict the ionospheric absorption attenuation of the skywave links. The international reference ionosphere model and the mass spectrometer incoherent scattering atmosphere model are used to construct the background ionosphere and background atmosphere. In the constructed background environment, using the three-dimensional ray tracing method to simulate and analyze the relationship between the ionospheric absorption attenuation and the radio frequency, the elevation angle, and the great circle distance calculated by the semi-empirical model and the three electron impact models. Shortwave communication test experiments with the great circle distances of 100 km, 200 km, and 400 km are conducted, and the accuracy of each prediction method is analyzed. According to the test results, there is little difference in the performance of the two models during the day. But during sunset, the ionospheric absorption attenuation predicted by the electron impact model is better than the ITU semi-empirical model used in the past. At the larger frequency of the available frequency band, the actual measurement values are closer to the electron collision model. Simulations and experiments have confirmed that the predicted values of the three electron collision models are similar. According to the actual data, the neutral composition of the atmosphere can be obtained.