The Ionosphere Over Northern Canada

Abstract

Contains review of communication problems in northern Canada. Shortwave radio via sky-wave tranmission is the most economical method of communication, but suffers from occasional failures due to ionospheric disturbances. Ionospheric research conducted in Canada to improve short-wave radio is discussed. Eight ionospheric recording observatories were established. Four of these, at St. John's in Newfoundland, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Prince Rupert, skirted the southern part of the auroral zone from east to west. Stations at Churchill and Fort Chimo were near the line of maximum auroral occurrence, and those at Baker Lake and Resolute Bay extended the line of observations from Winnipeg to a point north of the magnetic pole. In 1954 the stations at St. John's, Fort Chimo, and Prince Rupert were discontinued. Research on spectra, luminosity, height, and electron density of the aurora is briefly discussed.