[600MRG] Ionosphere Patch Mapping: Part 1

[James Hollander]

Please add your words of wisdom whether this ionosphere patch mapping method makes sense or how to improve it. The info involves a July 30, 2015, loss and reacquisition of XIQ decodes at SWLK9EN61, WB8ILI, WA3TTS/2.               73, Jim H  W5EST

IONOSPHERE PATCH MAPPING
    Picture an edge of a disturbed patch of ionosphere geographically about halfway along 1-hop propagation from XIQ to K (SWLK9EN61) when K lost reception of XIQ at 0252z 7/30/15.  Assume some big assumptions that the patch has straight non-parallel edges and moved as a whole entity in some TBD direction with a velocity v. 
    Question:  Can we estimate the orientation and velocity of the patch and its width?    
    Proposed Answer: See below TABLE of times from WSPR database. Also, plot XIQ's position and the great circles from XIQ to the RX locations of K, ILI, and TTS.  The halfway points on the great circles lie near Mountain Grove, MO; Sparta, IL; and Paducah, KY.  http://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm  

TABLE: RECEPTION TIMES OF XIQ 7/30/15 
Pwr Stn        km    RX Station     
TX  XIQ        SWLK9           WB8ILI            WA3TTS/2        
5w Lost    1317km,0252z   1670km, 0316z    1743km,0316z   
    Resumed          0420z                  0426z                  0412z

Decodes of XIQ stopped at 0316z for both ILI and TTS, which was 24 minutes after K lost XIQ at 0252z.  So, for a NE-facing patch edge, draw a NW/SE straight line through Sparta, IL, and Paducah, KY.  The patch was moving approximately NE, perpendicular toward that NW/SE line 225km from Mountain View MO after K lost XIQ at 0252z.  Velocity component v1 is:
         v1 = 565 km/hr NE.  (= 225km/0.4hr) 
 
--continued in Part 2--