IONOSPHERIC IRREGULARITIES, SCINTILLATION AND ITS EFFECT ON SYSTEMS

An essential component of the ionosphere is a small-scale electron density structure that causes scintillation of radio waves on transionospheric links. We briefly review the morphology of irregularities and physical mechanisms of their formation. Results of the scintillation theory relating statistical characteristics of irregularities and scintillation are also outlined. Examples of the scintillation effect on the system performance are given. Finally, we will present recent at-tempts to model the scintillation.