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This is a Non-Federal dataset covered by different Terms of Use than Data.gov.

Photographic Records Showing the Variations of the Virtual Height of Reflection as a Function of the Radio Frequency

Metadata Updated: April 23, 2024

The standard (analog) ionosonde produces photographic records known as ionograms, which show the variations of the virtual height of reflection as a function of the radio frequency. The frequency band normally used is from about 1 MHz to about 20 MHz though some ionosondes operate down to about 0.20 MHz and up to 30 MHz. The ionograms actually show the time of travel of the pulse signal from the transmitter to the ionosphere and back to the receiver. A given station typically generates a sweep-frequency ionogram in about two minutes. Normally four ionograms are taken per hour, one at each quarter hour. As of May 1994, there are approximately 16,140 rolls of ionogram film at our Data Center. Most of these photographic records (ionograms) were recorded on 35mm film, but there are some 16mm ionogram film. One month of 35mm ionograms averages about 800 feet of film. These rolls of film are kept off site but can be retrieved when needed. If you would like to study specific ionograms, researchers are welcome at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (formerly National Geophysical Data Center), but are requested to give adequate advance notice of their visit so that appropriate arrangements may be made for their work space at the Data Center. Some ionograms were digitized and are stored in TIF G4 format.

Access & Use Information

Non-Federal: This dataset is covered by different Terms of Use than Data.gov. License: No license information was provided.

Downloads & Resources

Dates

Metadata Date September 18, 2015
Metadata Created Date April 23, 2024
Metadata Updated Date April 23, 2024
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1957 (publication)
Frequency Of Update continual

Metadata Source

Harvested from NGDC STP Ionosonde

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Date September 18, 2015
Metadata Created Date April 23, 2024
Metadata Updated Date April 23, 2024
Reference Date(s) January 1, 1957 (publication)
Responsible Party DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (Point of Contact)
Contact Email
Guid gov.noaa.ngdc.stp.ionosonde:G00551
Access Constraints Use Constraints: None, Access Constraints: No Constraints
Bbox East Long 180.000000
Bbox North Lat 90.000000
Bbox South Lat -90.000000
Bbox West Long -180.000000
Coupled Resource
Frequency Of Update continual
Harvest Object Id a1435a44-e773-4b7f-b4b5-d52472aa1b93
Harvest Source Id d0b34d58-f2ce-4430-8867-7b4f91c83cff
Harvest Source Title NGDC STP Ionosonde
Licence While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
Lineage
Metadata Language eng; USA
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-180.0, -90.0], [180.0, -90.0], [180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, 90.0], [-180.0, -90.0]]]}
Progress underDevelopment
Spatial Data Service Type
Spatial Reference System
Spatial Harvester True
Temporal Extent Begin 1944-03-01

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