A study of tropospheric scintillations using SODAR

Tropospheric scintillations at 7.6 GHz over the Tiruttani-Tirupati line of sight microwave link have been analysed for the period of February 1987 to March 1988. The scintillation index (%) is observed to be predominantly a night-time phenomenon. Its occurrence is minimum during monsoon and postmonsoon seasons compared to premonsoon and winter seasons. The scintillation index has been observed to be positively associated with the initial radio refractivity gradient. The diurnal variation of structure intensity parameter Cn/sup 2/ computed from the scintillation data shows the value of Cn/sup 2/ to be minimum around midday and maximum at night. An attempt has been made to correlate tropospheric scintillations with SODAR structures. The studies show that the daytime convective conditions do not affect the microwave signal, whereas ground based inversions, elevated layers, rising inversions and wave motions are responsible for scintillations.<>