Systems and methods for generating electron density maps

Abstract

An embodiment of the disclosure provides a method of generating an electron density map of a D-region of the ionsphere. The method can comprise: defining a plurality of grid pixels corresponding to a portion of the D-region of the ionosphere; receiving a plurality of electromagnetic signals, each of the plurality of electromagnetic signals having propagated along a distinct propagation path through a portion of the D-region corresponding to one or more of the plurality of grid pixels; clustering the plurality of electromagnetic signals based on similarities in a point-of-origin of the plurality of electromagnetic signals; determining a path-averaged electron density curve for each of the plurality of clustered signals; determining a basis representation of an electron density curve of the plurality of grid pixels, which is consistent with the path-averaged electron density curves; and generating, based on the basis representation, an electron density map for the D-region of the ionosphere.