Effects of the upper atmosphere on terrestrial and space communications: the new cost 271 action of the European scientific community Original Research Article

During the last decade important results have been obtained by the two COST Actions (Co-operation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research) promoted by the European Union: the PRIME (Prediction and Retrospective Ionospheric Modelling over Europe) and the IITS (Improved Quality of Service in Ionospheric Telecommunication Systems Planning and Operation). The European scientific community involved in the ionospheric physics, radio propagation and space science has then proposed a new 4 years Action on the effects of the upper atmosphere on terrestrial and Earth space communications. The objectives and the most important directions of this recently accepted COST271 project are here shortly outlined.