Air Force Technology Tracks “Sporadic E”

  • Magazine Article
  • TBMG-38238
Published December 01, 2020 by Tech Briefs Media Group in United States
Language:
  • English

Researchers at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in New Mexico have discovered a new way to track and characterize a phenomenon called “Sporadic E” that naturally occurs in the upper atmosphere where large structures of dense plasma form. These plasma structures, which occur at midlatitude locations around the world, disrupt radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves (or simply “radio waves”) and impact both DoD and civilian radio systems in positive and negative ways, depending on the application.