scholarly journals Velocities of auroral coherent echoes at 12 and 144 MHz

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 1647-1661 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Koustov ◽  
D. W. Danskin ◽  
M. V. Uspensky ◽  
T. Ogawa ◽  
P. Janhunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Auroral Ionosphere ◽  
F Region ◽  
Radar Systems ◽  
Radar Echoes ◽  
E Region ◽  
Ionospheric Electric Field ◽  
Coherent Radar ◽  
Eiscat Measurements

Abstract. Two Doppler coherent radar systems are currently working at Hankasalmi, Finland, the STARE and CUTLASS radars operating at ~144 MHz and ~12 MHz, respectively. The STARE beam 3 is nearly co-located with the CUTLASS beam 5, providing an opportunity for echo velocity comparison along the same direction but at significantly different radar frequencies. In this study we consider an event when STARE radar echoes are detected at the same ranges as CUT-LASS radar echoes. The observations are complemented by EISCAT measurements of the ionospheric electric field and electron density behaviour at one range of 900 km. Two separate situations are studied; for the first one, CUTLASS observed F-region echoes (including the range of the EIS-CAT measurements), while for the second one CUTLASS observed E-region echoes. In both cases STARE E-region measurements were available. We show that F-region CUT-LASS velocities agree well with the convection component along the CUTLASS radar beam, while STARE velocities are typically smaller by a factor of 2–3. For the second case, STARE velocities are found to be either smaller or larger than CUTLASS velocities, depending on the range. Plasma physics of E-and F-region irregularities is discussed in attempt to explain the inferred relationship between various velocities. Special attention is paid to ionospheric refraction that is important for the detection of 12-MHz echoes.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities; plasma waves and instabilities; auroral ionosphere)

scholarly journals Initial backscatter occurrence statistics from the CUTLASS HF radars

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 703-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
T. K. Yeoman ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
E. C. Thomas ◽  
T. B. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Study ◽  
Operating Frequency ◽  
Ionospheric Electron Density ◽  
Brief Assessment ◽  
F Region ◽  
Hf Propagation ◽  
Geophysical Processes ◽  
E Region ◽  
Frequency Management ◽  
Coherent Radar

Abstract. A statistical study of the occurrence of ground and ionospheric backscatter within the fields-of-view of the CUTLASS HF radars, at an operating frequency of 10 MHz, during the first 20 months of operation has been undertaken. The diurnal variation of the occurrence of backscatter and the range at which such backscatter is observed is found to be highly dependent on seasonal changes of the ionospheric electron density in both the E and F region, determined from ionosonde observations. In general, ionospheric backscatter is observed at far ranges during the local day in winter months and at near ranges during the local night in summer months. The Iceland radar observes more near-range E region backscatter than the Finland radar as a consequence of its more zonal look-direction. The dependence of the occurrence of backscatter on geomagnetic activity and radar operating frequency are also investigated. The occurrence of ground and ionospheric backscatter is discussed in terms of HF propagation modes and ionospheric electron densities as well as geophysical processes. A brief assessment of the possible impact of solar cycle variations on the observations is made and frequency management is discussed. Such a study, with its focus on the `instrumental' aspect of backscatter occurrence, is essential for a full interpretation of HF coherent radar observations.

scholarly journals Equatorial night-time F-region zonal electric fields

1995 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 871-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. S. Hari ◽  
B. V. Krishna Murthy
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Equatorial Station ◽  
F Region ◽  
Vertical Drift ◽  
Longitudinal Gradients ◽  
Cycle Maximum ◽  
E Region

Abstract. Night-time F-region vertical electrodynamic drifts at the magnetic equatorial station, Trivandrum are obtained for a period of 2 years, 1989 and 1990 (corresponding to solar cycle maximum epoch), using ionosonde h'F data. The seasonal variation of the vertical drift is found to be associated with the longitudinal gradients of the thermospheric zonal wind. Further, the seasonal variation of the prereversal enhancement of the vertical drift is associated with the time difference between the sunset times of the conjugate E-regions (magnetic field line linked to F-region) which is indicative of the longitudinal gradients of the conductivity (of the E-region). The vertical drifts and the causative zonal electric fields at Trivandrum are compared with those at Jicamarca and F-region zonal electric field models. It is seen that the night-time downward drift (as also the causative westward electric field) at Jicamarca is greater than that at Trivandrum. The prereversal enhancement of the drift is greater at Jicamarca than at Trivandrum during the summer and the equinoxes, whereas during the winter the opposite is the case.

scholarly journals Signatures of 2-day wave in the E-region electric fields and their relationship to winds and ionospheric currents

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 631-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Aveiro ◽  
C. M. Denardini ◽  
M. A. Abdu
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Magnetic Activity ◽  
Ionospheric Currents ◽  
Coherent Scatter ◽  
Meridional Winds ◽  
Magnetometer Data ◽  
E Region ◽  
Dip Equator ◽  
Ionospheric Electric Field ◽  
Coherent Radar

Abstract. We analyze the effects of the 2-day wave activity in the EEJ using one coherent scatter radar and eight magnetometer stations located close to the dip equator. The wavelet analysis of the magnetometer data reveals a 2-day signature in the semidiurnal geomagnetic tide. The E-region zonal background ionospheric electric field, derived from coherent radar measurements, shows 2-day oscillations in agreement with such oscillations in the magnetometers data. An anticorrelation between the amplitude of the tidal periodicites (diurnal and semidiurnal) and that of the 2-day signature is also shown in the electric fields. The results are compared with simultaneous observations of 2-day planetary wave in meridional winds and ionosonde data. Further, our results are discussed based on the analysis of the magnetic activity.

scholarly journals On the usefulness of <i>E</i> region electron temperatures and lower <i>F</i> region ion temperatures for the extraction of thermospheric parameters: a case study

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1182-1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-P. St.-Maurice ◽  
C. Cussenot ◽  
W. Kofman
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electron Temperature ◽  
Plasma Temperature ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Neutral Winds ◽  
F Region ◽  
E Region ◽  
Effective Electric Field ◽  
Temperature Observations

Abstract. Using EISCAT data, we have studied the behavior of the E region electron temperature and of the lower F region ion temperature during a period that was particularly active geomagnetically. We have found that the E region electron temperatures responded quite predictably to the effective electric field. For this reason, the E region electron temperature correlated well with the lower F region ion temperature. However, there were several instances during the period under study when the magnitude of the E region electron temperature response was much larger than expected from the ion temperature observations at higher altitudes. We discovered that these instances were related to very strong neutral winds in the 110-175 km altitude region. In one instance that was scrutinized in detail using E region ion drift measurement in conjunction with the temperature observations, we uncovered that, as suspected, the wind was moving in a direction closely matching that of the ions, strongly suggesting that ion drag was at work. In this particular instance the wind reached a magnitude of the order of 350 m/s at 115 km and of at least 750 m/s at 160 km altitude. Curiously enough, there was no indication of strong upper F region neutral winds at the time; this might have been because the event was uncovered around noon, at a time when, in the F region, the E×B drift was strongly westward but the pressure gradients strongly northward in the F region. Our study indicates that both the lower F region ion temperatures and the E region electron temperatures can be used to extract useful geophysical parameters such as the neutral density (through a determination of ion-neutral collision frequencies) and Joule heating rates (through the direct connection that we have confirmed exists between temperatures and the effective electric field).Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; ionosphere atmosphere interactions; plasma temperature and density)

scholarly journals Deriving the normalised ion-neutral collision frequency from EISCAT observations

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. 1557-1569 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Davies ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
T. R. Robinson
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Collision Frequency ◽  
Neutral Atmosphere ◽  
Ion Temperature ◽  
Neutral Winds ◽  
Velocity Magnitude ◽  
F Region ◽  
E Region ◽  
Ion Velocity ◽  
The Difference

Abstract. Common programme observations by the EISCAT UHF radar revealed an extended interval, post geomagnetic local noon on 03 April 1992, during which the F-region ion velocity orthogonal to the geomagnetic field was significantly enhanced, to values exceeding 2 km s–1 corresponding to a perpendicular electric field of some 100 mV m–1. Observations from this interval are used to illustrate a method by which estimates of the E-region ion-neutral collision frequency may be derived in the presence of enhanced electric field. From both the rotation of the ion velocity vector and the reduction in the ion velocity magnitude relative to that in the F-region, independent estimates of the normalised ion-neutral collision frequency are made at the UHF E-region tristatic altitudes; the derived values are, in general, lower than model predictions. Although initial calculations assume a stationary neutral atmosphere, first-order estimates of the E-region neutral wind are subsequently employed to calculate revised estimates of the normalised ion-neutral collision frequency; these neutral winds are derived by attributing the difference between predicted and observed enhancements in field-parallel ion temperature to thermospheric motion. The inclusion of neutral winds, which are themselves not inconsiderable, appears to have only a limited effect on the normalised collision frequencies derived.

scholarly journals Relationships between pre-sunset electrojet strength, pre-reversal enhancement and equatorial spread-F onset

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 449-454 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Uemoto ◽  
T. Maruyama ◽  
S. Saito ◽  
M. Ishii ◽  
R. Yoshimura
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Equatorial Electrojet ◽  
Layer Height ◽  
Equatorial Spread F ◽  
Magnetic Latitude ◽  
F Region ◽  
Spread F ◽  
Bottom Side ◽  
E Region ◽  
Height Increase

Abstract. The virtual height of the bottom side F-region (h'F) and equatorial spread-F (ESF) onsets at Chumphon (10.7° N, 99.4° E; 3.3° N magnetic latitude) were compared with the behaviour of equatorial electrojet (EEJ) ground strength at Phuket (8.1° N, 98.3° E; 0.1° N magnetic latitude) during the period from November 2007 to October 2008. Increase in the F-layer height and ESF onsets during the evening hours were well connected with the EEJ ground strength before sunset, namely, both the height increase and ESF onsets were suppressed when the integrated EEJ ground strength for the period from 1 to 2 h prior to sunset was negative. The finding suggests observationally that the pre-sunset E-region dynamo current and/or electric field are related to the F-region dynamics and ESF onsets around sunset.

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 Numerical simulation of mid-latitude ionospheric <i>E</i>-region based on SEEK and SEEK-2 observations

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (7) ◽  
pp. 2377-2384 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Yokoyama ◽  
M. Yamamoto ◽  
S. Fukao ◽  
T. Takahashi ◽  
M. Tanaka
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
Sounding Rockets ◽  
Radar Echoes ◽  
Polarization Electric Field ◽  
E Region ◽  
Sporadic E

Abstract. Observational campaigns of the mid-latitude ionospheric E-region with sounding rockets and ground-based instruments were conducted in 1996 (SEEK) and 2002 (SEEK-2). Both of them were successfully conducted to bring important findings about the mid-latitude E-region and quasi-periodic (QP) VHF radar echoes. The observational results in the SEEK and the SEEK-2 are compared with numerical simulations and discussed in this paper. While sporadic-E (Es)-layers are actually formed by the observed neutral wind, it is difficult for the constant wind shear to produce the sharp Es-layer gradient. However, once they are formed in the lower E-region, they cannot easily be dissipated by the simple diffusive motion. The polarization electric field, calculated under the condition at the rocket launch time, shows similar amplitude and structure to the measurement around the Es-layer altitude. The structure of the plasma density and the electric field above the Es-layer observed in the SEEK-2 showed a wave-like pattern up to an altitude of 150 km. Considering a mapping of the polarization electric field generated within the Es-layers, gravity waves are the possible source of the wave-like structure of the measured electric fields and sub-peaks of the electron density above the main Es-layers. Fluctuation of the measured magnetic field is reproduced by Hall or field-aligned current driven by the polarization electric field. The current theoretical models for QP echoes and the polarization electric field are basically verified by the discussion in this paper. Keywords. Ionospheric irregularities – Mid-latitude ionosphere – Numerical simulation studies

scholarly journals E-region echo characteristics governed by auroral arc electrodynamics

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1567-1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
N. Sato ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
Y. Murata ◽  
Y. Shinkai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Electric Fields ◽  
Doppler Shift ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Radar Echoes ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
E Region ◽  
Electric Fields And Currents ◽  
Auroral Arcs ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. Observations of a pair of auroral arc features by two imagers, one ground- and one space-based, allows the associated field-aligned current (FAC) and electric field structure to be inferred. Simultaneous observations of HF radar echoes provide an insight into the irregularity-generating mechanisms. This is especially interesting for the E-region echoes observed, which form the focus of our analysis, and from which several conclusions can be drawn, summarized as follows. Latitudinal variations in echo characteristics are governed by the FAC and electric field background. Particularly sharp boundaries are found at the edges of auroral arcs. Within regions of auroral luminosity, echoes have Doppler shifts below the ion-acoustic speed and are proportional to the electric field, suggesting scatter from gradient drift waves. Regions of downward FAC are associated with mixed high and low Doppler shift echoes. The high Doppler shift component is greatly in excess of the ion-acoustic speed, but seems to be commensurate with the driving electric field. The low Doppler shift component appears to be much depressed below expectations.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities; electric fields and currents)

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