SATELLITE TRANSMISSION MEASUREMENTS OF IONOSPHERIC ELECTRON CONTENT AT A TIME OF LOW SOLAR ACTIVITY

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Abstract
The results of observations of the 54-Mc/s signal from Transit IVA (1961 Omicron 1) during a 12-month period are presented. Total columnar electron content measurements are made by the differential Faraday rotation method. It is shown that the electron content is inversely dependent upon the magnetic-activity index during the summer months but not during the winter. The presence of horizontal gradients in content is sometimes indicated. It is also found that the variation of electron content with solar zenith angle indicates an ionosphere approximating an ideal Chapman layer.