Directions of arrival at three frequencies on a propagation path along the mid-latitude trough: a comparison of observations with ray tracing simulations

In this paper, the observed changes in bearing on the west-east Halifax to Cheltenham path for three frequencies (approximately 5.1, 10.9, and 15.9 MHz) during a period of relatively low geomagnetic activity have been simulated by means of ray tracing. Two potential modes of propagation have been investigated: (a) two hop propagation with the ground reflection via non-specular scatter from the sea surface at locations to the south of the equatorward wall of the trough, and (b) reflection from the electron density gradients present at the equatorward wall of the trough