The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory

BIGHORNS is a total power radiometer developed to identify the signal from the Epoch of Reionisation in the all-sky averaged radio spectrum at low frequencies (70-300 MHz). In October 2014, the system with a conical log spiral antenna was deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) a...

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Main Authors: Sokolowski, Marcin, Wayth, Randall, Ellement, T.
Format: Conference Paper
Published: 2016
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50582
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author Sokolowski, Marcin
Wayth, Randall
Ellement, T.
author_facet Sokolowski, Marcin
Wayth, Randall
Ellement, T.
author_sort Sokolowski, Marcin
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description BIGHORNS is a total power radiometer developed to identify the signal from the Epoch of Reionisation in the all-sky averaged radio spectrum at low frequencies (70-300 MHz). In October 2014, the system with a conical log spiral antenna was deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) and has been collecting data since then. The system has been monitoring the radio frequency interference (RFI) environment at the future site of the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometer Array. We have analyzed almost two years of data (October 2014 - August 2016 inclusive) in search for events of long distance propagation of the RFI in FM and digital TV bands due to tropospheric ducting and reflections (of the meteor trails or aircraft). We present statistics of tropospheric ducting events observed in the digital TV band over nearly two years, which shows seasonal changes. We also present a system using upper atmosphere data (temperature, humidity and pressure as a function of altitude) from all stations in Western Australia to calculate the modified refractive index and make predictions of tropospheric ducting events. Preliminary tests indicate that the system can be very useful in predicting tropospheric ducting events (even with limited amount of available upper atmosphere data).
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-505822018-03-29T09:09:36Z The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory Sokolowski, Marcin Wayth, Randall Ellement, T. BIGHORNS is a total power radiometer developed to identify the signal from the Epoch of Reionisation in the all-sky averaged radio spectrum at low frequencies (70-300 MHz). In October 2014, the system with a conical log spiral antenna was deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) and has been collecting data since then. The system has been monitoring the radio frequency interference (RFI) environment at the future site of the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometer Array. We have analyzed almost two years of data (October 2014 - August 2016 inclusive) in search for events of long distance propagation of the RFI in FM and digital TV bands due to tropospheric ducting and reflections (of the meteor trails or aircraft). We present statistics of tropospheric ducting events observed in the digital TV band over nearly two years, which shows seasonal changes. We also present a system using upper atmosphere data (temperature, humidity and pressure as a function of altitude) from all stations in Western Australia to calculate the modified refractive index and make predictions of tropospheric ducting events. Preliminary tests indicate that the system can be very useful in predicting tropospheric ducting events (even with limited amount of available upper atmosphere data). 2016 Conference Paper http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50582 10.1109/RFINT.2016.7833541 restricted
spellingShingle Sokolowski, Marcin
Wayth, Randall
Ellement, T.
The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title_full The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title_fullStr The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title_full_unstemmed The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title_short The statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the Murchison radio-astronomy observatory
title_sort statistics of radio frequency interference propagating from long distances to the murchison radio-astronomy observatory
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50582