Determination of HF ray path parameters using a multi-quasiparabolic model ionosphere

The multi-quasiparabolic (QP) model ionosphere has become available with the desirable features of providing explicit oblique ray path analytic expressions for ground range, reflection height and phase path, etc. at HF radio frequencies. The need for time-consuming numeric ray tracing is reduced. Electron density profiles are synthesised as combinations of QP and inverted QP segments to provide a match to any desired accuracy by changing the number of chosen segments. A family of different profiles parametric in terms of standard scaled vertical-incidence ionospheric characteristics has been simulated in this way for any location and time-of-day.