S K Mitra's “The Upper Atmosphere”: The Role of Monograph and Text Literature in the Evolution of Ionospheric Physics

171-181This paper discusses the types of reference and text literature used by researchers and by students, in the evolution of the field of ionospheric physics and, in particular, highlights two books: The Propagation of Radio Waves (Copenhagen, 1927) by P. O. Pedersen; and The Upper Atmosphere (Calcutta, 1947) by S. K. Mitra. Pedersen's book was the first in this emerging field. During the "take-off" period of ionospheric research after World War II and until the advent of magnetospheric and satellite studies, Mitra's volume was the standard. The function of other types of literature is discussed, including the essay review, the semi-popular monograph, and the conference proceedings. Also mentioned are relationships and use of ionospheric literature in "near-by" fields such as geomagnetism, radio engineering, wave propagation, electron physics, and solar system astronomy