scholarly journals Alternating-code experiment for plasma-line studies

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1473-1479
Author(s):  
P. Guio ◽  
N. Bjørnå ◽  
W. Kofman
Keyword(s):  
Correction Term ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Electron Velocity ◽  
Electron Velocity Distribution ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
Pulse Technique ◽  
F Region ◽  
Plasma Line ◽  
E Region ◽  
Long Pulse

Abstract. We present results of the first plasma-line measurement of the incoherent spectrum using the alternating-code technique with the EISCAT VHF radar. This technique, which has earlier mostly been used to measure high-resolution E-region ion-line spectra, turned out to be a very good alternative to other techniques for plasma-line measurements. The experiment provides simultaneous measurement of the ion line and downshifted and upshifted plasma-line spectra with an altitude resolution of 3 km and a temporal resolution of 10 s. The measurements are taken around the peak of the F region, but not necessarily at the peak itself, as is the case with the long-pulse technique. The condition for success is that the scale height should be large enough such that the backscattered signal from the range extent of one gate falls inside the receiver filter. The data are analysed and the results are combined with the results of the ion-line data analysis to estimate electron mean drift velocity and thereafter electric currents along the line of sight of the radar using both the standard dispersion relation assuming a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution and the more recent model including a heat-flow correction term.

scholarly journals Enhanced incoherent scatter plasma lines

1996 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 1462-1472 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Nilsson ◽  
S. Kirkwood ◽  
J. Lilensten ◽  
M. Galand
Keyword(s):  
High Plasma ◽  
Collision Term ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
Detailed Model ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
Incoherent Scatter Radars ◽  
Plasma Line ◽  
E Region ◽  
Radar Measurements

Abstract. Detailed model calculations of auroral secondary and photoelectron distributions for varying conditions have been used to calculate the theoretical enhancement of incoherent scatter plasma lines. These calculations are compared with EISCAT UHF radar measurements of enhanced plasma lines from both the E and F regions, and published EISCAT VHF radar measurements. The agreement between the calculated and observed plasma line enhancements is good. The enhancement from the superthermal distribution can explain even the very strong enhancements observed in the auroral E region during aurora, as previously shown by Kirkwood et al. The model calculations are used to predict the range of conditions when enhanced plasma lines will be seen with the existing high-latitude incoherent scatter radars, including the new EISCAT Svalbard radar. It is found that the detailed structure, i.e. the gradients in the suprathermal distribution, are most important for the plasma line enhancement. The level of superthermal flux affects the enhancement only in the region of low phase energy where the number of thermal electrons is comparable to the number of suprathermal electrons and in the region of high phase energy where the suprathermal fluxes fall to such low levels that their effect becomes small compared to the collision term. To facilitate the use of the predictions for the different radars, the expected signal- to-noise ratios (SNRs) for typical plasma line enhancements have been calculated. It is found that the high-frequency radars (Søndre Strømfjord, EISCAT UHF) should observe the highest SNR, but only for rather high plasma frequencies. The VHF radars (EISCAT VHF and Svalbard) will detect enhanced plasma lines over a wider range of frequencies, but with lower SNR.

Application of the coded long-pulse technique to plasma line studies of the ionosphere

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (24) ◽  
pp. 2725-2728 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank T. Djuth ◽  
Michael P. Sulzer ◽  
John H. Elder
Keyword(s):  
Pulse Technique ◽  
Plasma Line ◽  
Long Pulse

scholarly journals EISCAT Svalbard radar observations of SPEAR-induced E- and F-region spectral enhancements in the polar cap ionosphere

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1801-1814 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Dhillon ◽  
T. R. Robinson ◽  
T. K. Yeoman
Keyword(s):  
High Power ◽  
Polar Cap ◽  
Incoherent Scatter ◽  
F Region ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
First Results ◽  
Plasma Line ◽  
E Region ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Overdense Plasma

Abstract. The Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) facility has successfully operated in the high-power heater and low-power radar modes and has returned its first results. The high-power results include observations of SPEAR-induced ion and plasma line spectral enhancements recorded by the EISCAT Svalbard UHF incoherent scatter radar system (ESR), which is collocated with SPEAR. These SPEAR-enhanced spectra possess features that are consistent with excitation of both the purely growing mode and the parametric decay instability. In this paper, we present observations of upper and lower E-region SPEAR-induced ion and plasma line enhancements, together with F-region spectral enhancements, which indicate excitation of both instabilities and which are consistent with previous theoretical treatments of instability excitation in sporadic E-layers. In agreement with previous observations, spectra from the lower E-region have the single-peaked form characteristic of collisional plasma. Our observations of the SPEAR-enhanced E-region spectra suggest the presence of variable drifting regions of patchy overdense plasma, which is a finding also consistent with previous results.

scholarly journals A first comparison of irregularity and ion drift velocity measurements in the E-region

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 2375-2389 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Makarevich ◽  
F. Honary ◽  
V. S. C. Howells ◽  
A. V. Koustov ◽  
S. E. Milan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drift Velocity ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Electron Velocity ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Ion Drift ◽  
E Region ◽  
Ion Velocity ◽  
Large Flow

Abstract. E-region irregularity velocity measurements at large flow angles with the STARE Finland coherent VHF radar are considered in context of the ion and electron velocity data provided by the EISCAT tristatic radar system, CUTLASS Finland coherent HF radar, and IMAGE fluxgate magnetometers. The data have been collected during a special experiment on 27 March 2004 during which EISCAT was scanning between several E- and one F-region altitudes along the magnetic field line. Within the E-region, the EISCAT measurements at two altitudes of 110 and 115 km are considered while the electron velocity is inferred from the EISCAT ion velocity measurements at 278 km. The line-of-sight (l-o-s) VHF velocity measured by STARE VHF los is compared to the ion and electron velocity components (Vi0 comp and Ve0 comp) along the STARE l-o-s direction. The comparison with Ve0 comp for the entire event shows that the measurements exhibit large scatter and small positive correlation. The correlation with Ve0 comp was substantial in the first half of the interval under study when Ve0 comp was larger in magnitude. The comparison with Vi0 comp at 110 and 115 km shows a considerable positive correlation, with VHF velocity being typically larger (smaller) in magnitude than Vi0 comp at 110 km (115 km) so that VVHF los appears to be bounded by the ion velocity components at two altitudes. It is also demonstrated that the difference between VVHF los and Vi0 comp at 110 km can be treated, in the first approximation, as a linear function of the effective backscatter height heff also counted from 110 km; heff varies in the range 108–114 km due to the altitude integration effects in the scattering cross-section. Our results are consistent with the notion that VHF velocity at large flow angles is directly related to the ion drift velocity component at an altitude heff.

scholarly journals VHF radar observations of the dip equatorial E-region during sunset in the Brazilian sector

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1617-1623 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Denardini ◽  
M. A. Abdu ◽  
E. R. de Paula ◽  
C. M. Wrasse ◽  
J. H. A. Sobral
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Equatorial Electrojet ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Maximum Intensity ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
F Region ◽  
Vertical Electric Field ◽  
Tentative Explanation ◽  
E Region ◽  
Activity Condition

Abstract. Using the RESCO 50 MHz backscatter radar (2.33° S, 44.2° W, DIP: –0.5), at São Luís, Brazil, we obtained Range Time Intensity (RTI) maps covering the equatorial electrojet heights during daytime and evening. These maps revealed a scattering region at an altitude of about 108 km during the sunset period. The type of 3-m irregularity region we present here has not been reported before in the literature, to our knowledge. It was mainly observed around the Southern Hemisphere summer-solstice period, under quiet magnetic activity condition. The occurrence of this echo region coincides in local time with the maximum intensity of an evening pre-reversal eastward electric field of the ionospheric F-region. A tentative explanation is proposed here in terms of the theory of the divergence of the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) current in the evening ionosphere presented by Haerendel and Eccles (1992), to explain the partial contribution of the divergence to the development of the pre-reversal electric field. The theory predicts an enhanced zonal electric field and hence a vertical electric field below 300 km as a consequence of the EEJ divergence in the evening. The experimental results of the enhanced echoes from the higher heights of the EEJ region seem to provide evidence that the divergence of the EEJ current can indeed be the driver of the observed scattering region.

scholarly journals Statistical characteristics of low-latitude ionospheric field-aligned irregularities obtained with the Piura VHF radar

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 1203-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Chau ◽  
R. F. Woodman ◽  
L. A. Flores
Keyword(s):  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Equatorial Electrojet ◽  
Meridional Wind ◽  
Statistical Characteristics ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
F Region ◽  
Seasonal Characteristics ◽  
E Region ◽  
Field Aligned Irregularities

Abstract. We present a summary of the statistical characteristics of echoes from ionospheric (E- and F-region) field-aligned irregularities obtained with the Piura VHF radar. This radar is located at ~ 7.0° dip latitude, just outside the equatorial electrojet (EEJ) region. Our results are based on (1) intermittent observations made between 1991 and 1999 just few days a year, and (2) continuous observations made between January 2000 and June 2001. During most of the intermittent observations, simultaneous measurements of EEJ and equatorial spread F (ESF) irregularities were performed with the Jicamarca VHF radar. From the continuous measurements, we have obtained the diurnal and seasonal characteristics of a variety of parameters (percentage of occurrence, signal-to-noise ratio and/or Doppler velocities) from the lower and upper E-region irregularities and also from F-region irregularities over Piura. For example, we have found that (1) the E-region echoes are stronger and occur more frequently during local summer (i.e. between December and March); (2) between May and June, the E-region echoes are weaker and occur less frequently; moreover, during these months, a semidiurnal wave with large amplitudes is observed in the meridional wind (> 100 ms- 1); (3) there is vertical wavelength of about 20 km in the Doppler velocity, particularly after midnight; (4) the lower (upper) E-region Doppler velocities are influenced mainly by meridional winds (equatorial F-region vertical drifts). In addition, we have observed that the seasonal and daily occurrences of Piura F-region irregularities are similar to the occurrence of topside ESF irregularities over Jicamarca. The likelihood of occurrence of F-region irregularities over Piura and, therefore, topside ESF over Jicamarca is greater when there are no E-region irregularities over Piura. On the other hand, there is more probability of observing bottomtype/bottomside ESF irregularities over Jicamarca when E-region irregularities are observed over Piura.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities; equatorial ionosphere; instruments and techniques)

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