DEVELOPMENT OF HF MODELLING IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA DURING THE RISE OF SOLAR CYCLE 24.

The modelling of maximum useable frequency (MUF) is important in high frequency (HF) radio frequency management. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop MUF models and verify the models obtained with experimental data. The development of the models were carried out in Peninsular Malaysia during the rise of Solar Cycle 24 (2009 to 2011). The modelling parameters were the ionospheric F2-layer parameters obtained from the frequency modulated-continuous wave (FM-CW) ionosonde at Kototabang, Indonesia (0.2 °S, 100. 3°E; 10.36 °S magnetic latitude), and sunspot number (SSN) data obtained from Space Weather Services, Bureau of Meteorology, Australia. The experimental MUF data was obtained from STRIDE, Ministry of Defence, Malaysia. The regression method was used to derive the mathematical models. MUFTime and MUFSSN were derived from the regression method. Observation from the comparison of plots between MUFTime and MUFSSN with MUF experimental revealed that the magnitudes for MUFTime and MUFSSN with MUF experimental were of similar trend. The mean absolute error (MAE) between MUFTime and MUFSSN with MUF experimental were 0.77 and 0.86 respectively. In order to obtain HF operating frequencies, both models would need to be combined to implement MUF prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]