Effect of meteor activity on the E-region fading

Abstract

The effect of meteor activity on the fading of a radiowave reflected from the E-region in the ionosphere was studied during 1957-1958 and 1963-1964 at Waltair (17°43N, 83°18E-Geomag. Lat. 7·4°N). The fading frequency of a radiowave reflected from the E-region was found to increase during meteor shower periods. The annual variation of fading frequency in the E-region was studied in relation to sporadic meteor activity. From a study of the variation of fading frequency and visual hourly meteor rate with time during the Geminid shower of 1963 and Leonid shower of 1964 it was concluded that both fading frequency and meteor rate attain maximum values at about the same time.