height to rise was noted in several sequential groups.

Consequently,

a plot was made with the minimm height of each group represented by a

cross (Fig. 3.19).

A possible explanation for the increasing heights

was immediately seen. The hypothesis is that the rising sequences
of points resulted from regions of relatively intense ionization mov~

(The anten- |

' yas, though designed for vertical radiation and reception, are not.
restricted 40 thie direction, and oblique returns are often encount-.

ered when horizontal inhomogeneities are present in the ionosphere. —

The "height" at which such echoes appear is greater by virtue of the

eae path length and is, hence, called “apparent height" in Fig. .
3e19-

KM

aes

'

57,.+73M

60.+84M

800
600

400 Sh
200

TPES

59.+81M

ere

KM

fs

Ol +90M
2)

£4. £
eT

tee

coe
te

+

brs geet
———

SESE

t
¢

e

. t+

ts

TEE

aa

=, Litt

Dol?

$6.479M

62.+95M

SPER PS eee

800
600
400
200 ~
o
2

3

4

6

8

10

i@

CE

2

3

4

6

8

10

14

Fig. 3.16 = Ionospheric Records at Rongerik Following Shot 4 by 73 to
95 min, Showing Clearly Oblique Echoes and Trend Toward
Nornaloy

45
SECRET

mC

~

ing horizontally in some direction away from the operating site as

part of a radial motion originating above the explosion,

Select target paragraph3