Vol52,3,2009


edited by 

ALAIN BOURDILLON, LJILJANA R. CANDER and BRUNO ZOLESI

A N N A L S
OF

GEOPHYSICS
A N N A L I D I G E O F I S I C A

Vol52,3,2009  20-09-2009  19:05  Pagina III



Vol52,3,2009  20-09-2009  19:05  Pagina IV



V

ANNALS  OF  GEOPHYSICS,  VOL.  52,  N.  3/4,  June/August  2009

Preface

This issue of Annals of Geophysics contains a series of papers which form the Fi-
nal Report of the COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) 296 Ac-
tion on the Mitigation of Ionospheric Effects on Radio Systems (MIERS). It is impor-
tant to recognize that COST is one of the longest running European instruments sup-
porting cooperation among scientists and researchers across Europe. Prior to the
COST 296 Action, strong collaboration in the field of ionospheric research and appli-
cations had already been established under three previous actions on Prediction and
Retrospective Ionospheric Modelling over Europe (PRIME), on Improved Quality of
Service in Ionospheric Telecommunication Systems Planning and Operation, and Ef-
fects of the Upper Atmosphere on Terrestrial and Earth-Space Communications. The
MIERS main objective was to broaden our knowledge of the effects imposed by the
ionosphere on practical radio systems, and for the development and implementation of
techniques to mitigate the deleterious effects of the ionosphere on such systems. As a
result of all these activities, more than 130 researchers from about 40 institutions in
26 countries all over the world currently belong to the ionospheric COST community.

All the papers in this supplement are in the format employed in the international
scientific literature. They describe the principle results achieved in the COST 296
Action. In addition to these scientific papers, an introductory paper briefly covers
the background, the objectives as defined in the Memorandum of Understanding, the
management structure and architecture of the action, and the technical work pro-
gramme.  An overview of COST 296 activities has been included together with a con-
cluding paper summarising the overall outcomes and looking forward to further in-
vestigations in a follow-on Action.

We would like to thank all the participants of this Action, the Working Group and
Package leaders, the secretary of the Action Mrs. Angela Vernon, and all the local
organizers of the different Workshops and Management Committee meetings.

Lastly, we also wish to acknowledge Prof. Enzo Boschi, President of the Istituto
Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, for supporting the publication of this issue
of Annals of Geophysics. 

ALAIN BOURDILLON
LJILJANA R. CANDER

BRUNO ZOLESI

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