Mapping of radiosonde-derived clear air climatic parameters using neural modelling techniques

This article is concerned with the study of climatic ducting statistics based on the analysis of radiosonde data, the aim being to characterise the effects of climate in statistical propagation prediction models. Discussed are issues of data acquisition, processing and validation, and analysis of derived ducting statistics. Examples of regional and global maps of these statistics are also provided. As well as looking at established parameters such as /spl beta//sub 0/, other duct-related parameters are examined. Trends in ducting statistics are analysed and, through the use of residual analyses and neural modelling techniques to predict ducting statistics, the possibility of replacing standard contour maps with parametric formulae is considered.