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Radio Wave Propagation andSolar Eclipse

William Lileslilesw@gmail.com

Photo from nasa.gov

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Does a solar eclipse affect radio wave propagation?

If so, how? Why do we care?

http://space.rice.edu

3Image from nasa.gov

4Image from ofcom.org.uk

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Image from http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu

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How does a solar eclipse affect radio wave propagation below 500 kHz?

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WWVB Transmitter Colorado

60 kHz 24/7 US Government Time and Frequency Transmitter

Images from nist.gov

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How does a solar eclipse affect 60 kHz radio wave propagation?

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Need to receive and process spatially diverse signals before/during/after eclipse

Eclipse eventt = 0

Data collection Phase #1

Data collection Phase #2

Data collection Phase #3

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Requirements

InexpensiveEasy to obtain materialsEasy to build (12 year old and up)Easy to useCollects needed data (what data?)Structured for analysisWebsite with instructions

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System View

Antenna

ReceiverAnalog

AnalogTo Digital

ReceiverDigital

Processing Comms

LocationServices

Comms Backend Services

DataAnalysis

InsightsPublications

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Images from nist.gov

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Backend

Given data from collection site, how is that matched to ionosphere conditions (total eclipse, partial, none)?

What is the best way to show the effect across the US on a map?

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Useful sites

Official site for WWVBwww.nist.gov

Great site for VLF informationwww.vlf.it

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Collaborators

Dr. Jill Nelson George Mason Univ.Dr. Laura Lukes George Mason Univ.

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Questions