scholarly journals Multi-frequency observations of E-region HF radar aurora

2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 761-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
N. Sato
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Shift ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Wave Number ◽  
Electron Drift ◽  
Doppler Shifts ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
E Region ◽  
Coherent Backscatter ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. Multi-frequency observations of E-region coherent backscatter from decametre waves reveal that auroral echoes tend to comprise two spectral components superimposed, one at low Doppler shifts, below 250 ms-1, and the other Doppler shifted to near the ion-acoustic speed or above, up to 800 ms-1. The low Doppler shift component occurs at all look directions; Doppler shifts near the ion acoustic speed occur when looking at low flow angles along the direction of the electron drift in the electrojet, and Doppler shifts in excess of the ion acoustic speed occur at intermediate flow angles. The latter population appears most commonly at radar frequencies near 10–12 MHz, with its occurrence decreasing dramatically at higher frequencies. The velocity of the high Doppler shift echoes increases with increasing radar frequency, or irregularity wave number k. The velocity of the low Doppler shift population appears to be suppressed significantly below the line-of-sight component of the electron drift. Initial estimates of the altitude from which scatter occurs suggest that the high Doppler shift echoes originate from higher in the E-region than the low Doppler shift echoes, certainly in the eastward electrojet. We discuss these observations with reference to the theories of de/stabilization of two-stream waves by electron density gradients and electrostatic ion cyclotron waves excited by field-parallel electron drifts.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities)

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)

scholarly journals Simultaneous observations at different altitudes of ionospheric backscatter in the eastward electrojet

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Approximate Determination ◽  
Spectral Signature ◽  
Plasma Convection ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
F Region ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
E Region ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. A common feature of evening near-range ionospheric backscatter in the CUTLASS Iceland radar field of view is two parallel, approximately L-shell-aligned regions of westward flow which are attributed to irregularities in the auroral eastward electrojet region of the ionosphere. These backscatter channels are separated by approximately 100–200 km in range. The orientation of the CUTLASS Iceland radar beams and the zonally aligned nature of the flow allows an approximate determination of flow angle to be made without the necessity of bistatic measurements. The two flow channels have different azimuthal variations in flow velocity and spectral width. The nearer of the two regions has two distinct spectral signatures. The eastern beams detect spectra with velocities which saturate at or near the ion-acoustic speed, and have low spectral widths (less than 100 m s–1), while the western beams detect lower velocities and higher spectral widths (above 200 m s–1). The more distant of the two channels has only one spectral signature with velocities above the ion-acoustic speed and high spectral widths. The spectral characteristics of the backscatter are consistent with E-region scatter in the nearer channel and upper-E-region or F-region scatter in the further channel. Temporal variations in the characteristics of both channels support current theories of E-region turbulent heating and previous observations of velocity-dependent backscatter cross-section. In future, observations of this nature will provide a powerful tool for the investigation of simultaneous E- and F-region irregularity generation under similar (nearly co-located or magnetically conjugate) electric field conditions.Key words. Auroral ionosphere · Ionospheric irregularities · Plasma convection

scholarly journals Imaging radar observations of Farley Buneman waves during the JOULE II experiment

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1837-1850 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Hysell ◽  
G. Michhue ◽  
M. F. Larsen ◽  
R. Pfaff ◽  
M. Nicolls ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electric Fields ◽  
Spectral Width ◽  
Auroral Zone ◽  
Convection Flow ◽  
Coherent Scatter ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Doppler Shifts ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. Vector electric fields and associated E×B drifts measured by a sounding rocket in the auroral zone during the NASA JOULE II experiment in January 2007, are compared with coherent scatter spectra measured by a 30 MHz radar imager in a common volume. Radar imaging permits precise collocation of the spectra with the background electric field. The Doppler shifts and spectral widths appear to be governed by the cosine and sine of the convection flow angle, respectively, and also proportional to the presumptive ion acoustic speed. The neutral wind also contributes to the Doppler shifts. These findings are consistent with those from the JOULE I experiment and also with recent numerical simulations of Farley Buneman waves and instabilities carried out by Oppenheim et al. (2008). Simple linear analysis of the waves offers some insights into the spectral moments. A formula relating the spectral width to the flow angle, ion acoustic speed, and other ionospheric parameters is derived.

scholarly journals STARE velocity at large flow angles: is it related to the ion acoustic speed?

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 873-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Uspensky ◽  
A. V. Koustov ◽  
S. Nozawa
Keyword(s):  
Electron Flow ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
Velocity Data ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
E Region ◽  
Linear Fit ◽  
Radar Velocity ◽  
Large Flow ◽  
Eiscat Measurements ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. The electron drift and ion-acoustic speed in the E region inferred from EISCAT measurements are compared with concurrent STARE radar velocity data to investigate a recent hypothesis by Bahcivan et al. (2005), that the electrojet irregularity velocity at large flow angles is simply the product of the ion-acoustic speed and the cosine of an angle between the electron flow and the irregularity propagation direction. About 3000 measurements for flow angles of 50°–70° and electron drifts of 400–1500 m/s are considered. It is shown that the correlation coefficient and the slope of the best linear fit line between the predicted STARE velocity (based solely on EISCAT data and the hypothesis of Bahcivan et al. (2005)) and the measured one are both of the order of ~0.4. Velocity predictions are somewhat better if one assumes that the irregularity phase velocity is the line-of-sight component of the E×B drift scaled down by a factor ~0.6 due to off-orthogonality of irregularity propagation (nonzero effective aspect angles of STARE observations).

scholarly journals Investigation of the relationship between optical auroral forms and HF radar E region backscatter

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 608-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
N. Sato ◽  
H. Takizawa ◽  
J.-P. Villain
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Vhf Radar ◽  
The Past ◽  
Optical Signature ◽  
E Region ◽  
Coherent Backscatter ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
East West

Abstract. The SuperDARN HF radars have been employed in the past to investigate the spectral characteristics of coherent backscatter from L-shell aligned features in the auroral E region. The present study employs all-sky camera observations of the aurora from Husafell, Iceland, and the two SuperDARN radars located on Iceland, Þykkvibær and Stokkseyri, to determine the optical signature of such backscatter features. It is shown that, especially during quiet geomagnetic conditions, the backscatter region is closely associated with east-west aligned diffuse auroral features, and that the two move in tandem with each other. This association between optical and radar aurora has repercussions for the instability mechanisms responsible for generating the E region irregularities from which radars scatter. This is discussed and compared with previous studies investigating the relationship between optical and VHF radar aurora. In addition, although it is known that E region backscatter is commonly observed by SuperDARN radars, the present study demonstrates for the first time that multiple radars can observe the same feature to extend over at least 3 h of magnetic local time, allowing precipitation features to be mapped over large portions of the auroral zone.Key words: Ionosphere (particle precipitation; plasma waves and instabilities)

scholarly journals Mid-latitude <i>E</i>-region bulk motions inferred from digital ionosonde and HF radar measurements

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 3789-3798 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. C. Hussey ◽  
C. Haldoupis ◽  
A. Bourdillon ◽  
J. Delloue ◽  
J. T. Wiensz
Keyword(s):  
Hf Radar ◽  
Neutral Wind ◽  
Angle Of Arrival ◽  
Neutral Winds ◽  
Sporadic E Layers ◽  
E Region ◽  
Radar Measurements ◽  
Sporadic E ◽  
Coherent Radar ◽  
Coherent Backscatter

Abstract. In the mid-latitude E-region there is now evidence suggesting that neutral winds play a significant role in driving the local plasma instabilities and electrodynamics inside sporadicE layers. Neutral winds can be inferred from coherent radar backscatter measurements of the range-/azimuth-time-intensity (RTI/ATI) striations of quasi-periodic (QP) echoes, or from radar interferometer/imaging observations. In addition, neutral winds in the E-region can be estimated from angle-of-arrival ionosonde measurements of sporadic-E layers. In the present paper we analyse concurrent ionosonde and HF coherent backscatter observations obtained when a Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde (CADI) was operated under a portion of the field-of-view of the Valensole high frequency (HF) radar. The Valensole radar, a mid-latitude radar located in the south of France with a large azimuthal scanning capability of 82° (24° E to 58° W), was used to deduce zonal bulk motions of QP echoing regions using ATI analysis. The CADI was used to measure angle-of-arrival information in two orthogonal horizontal directions and thus derive the motion of sporadic-E patches drifting with the neutral wind. This paper compares the neutral wind drifts of the unstable sporadic-E patches as determined by the two instruments. The CADI measurements show a predominantly westward aligned motion, but the measured zonal drifts are underestimated relative to those observed with the Valensole radar.

scholarly journals HF radar observations of high-aspect angle backscatter from the E-region

2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
T. K. Yeoman ◽  
T. R. Robinson ◽  
M. V. Uspensky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Plasma Waves ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Radio Waves ◽  
Azimuthal Dependence ◽  
Aspect Angle ◽  
Doppler Shifts ◽  
E Region ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Drift Direction

Abstract. We present evidence for the observation of high-aspect angle HF radar backscatter from the auroral electrojets, and describe the spectral characteristics of these echoes. Such backscatter is observed at very near ranges where ionospheric refraction is not sufficient to bring the sounding radio waves to orthogonality with the magnetic field; the frequency dependence of this propagation effect is investigated with the Stereo upgrade of the CUTLASS Iceland radar. We term the occurrence of such echoes the "high-aspect angle irregularity region" or HAIR. It is suggested that backscatter is observed at aspect angles as high as 30°, with an aspect sensitivity as low as 1dB deg–1. These echoes are distinguished from normal electrojet backscatter by having low Doppler shifts with an azimuthal dependence that appears more consistent with the direction of the convection electric field than with the expected electron drift direction. This is discussed in terms of the linear theory dispersion relation for electrojet waves. Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric irregularities; plasma waves and instabilities; auroral ionosphere)

scholarly journals On the altitude dependence of the spectral characteristics of decametre-wavelength E region backscatter and the relationship with optical auroral forms

2001 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Milan ◽  
M. Lester ◽  
N. Sato ◽  
H. Takizawa
Keyword(s):  
Doppler Shift ◽  
Spectral Characteristics ◽  
Coherent Scattering ◽  
Hf Radar ◽  
Type I ◽  
The North ◽  
Minute Period ◽  
E Region ◽  
Auroral Arcs ◽  
Auroral Luminosity

Abstract. Observations of E region backscatter by the Ice-land East SuperDARN HF radar from the 30 minute period 2330 to 2400 UT on 13 September 1999 are presented, along with simultaneous observations of auroral luminosity from two all-sky cameras. Interferometric techniques are employed to estimate the altitude of origin of each echo observed by the radar. Under investigation is a region of backscatter which is L-shell aligned and exists in a region of low auroral luminosity bounded to the north and the south by two auroral arcs. The spectral characteristics of the backscatter fall into three main populations: broad, low Doppler shift spectra; narrow, high Doppler shift spectra; and exceptionally narrow, low Doppler shift spectra. The first two populations are similar to type II and type I spectra observed with VHF radars, respectively. These populations scatter from near the peak of the E region. The high Doppler shift population appears to exist in a region of sub-critical electric field. The third population originates below the E region peak at altitudes between 80 and 100 km. We argue that a non-coherent scattering process is responsible for this backscatter.Key words. Ionosphere (auroral ionosphere; ionospheric irregularities)

scholarly journals The electron drift velocity, ion acoustic speed and irregularity drifts in high-latitude E-region

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (11) ◽  
pp. 3395-3409 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. V. Uspensky ◽  
R. J. Pellinen ◽  
P. Janhunen
Keyword(s):  
Drift Velocity ◽  
Equatorial Electrojet ◽  
Electron Drift Velocity ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Electron Drift ◽  
Velocity Dependence ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Aspect Angle ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
Acoustic Speed

Abstract. The purpose of this study is to examine the STARE irregularity drift velocity dependence on the EISCAT line-of-sight (los or l-o-s) electron drift velocity magnitude, VE×Blos, and the flow angle ΘN,F (superscript N and/or F refer to the STARE Norway and Finland radar). In the noon-evening sector the flow angle dependence of Doppler velocities, VirrN,F, inside and outside the Farley-Buneman (FB) instability cone (|VE×Blos|>Cs and |VE×Blos|<Cs, respectively, where Cs is the ion acoustic speed), is found to be similar and much weaker than suggested earlier. In a band of flow angles 45°<ΘN,F<85° it can be reasonably described by |VirrN,F|∝AN,FCscosnΘN,F, where AN,F≈1.2–1.3 are monotonically increasing functions of VE×B and the index n is ~0.2 or even smaller. This study (a) does not support the conclusion by Nielsen and Schlegel (1985), Nielsen et al. (2002, their #[18]) that at flow angles larger than ~60° (or |VirrN,F|≤300 m/s) the STARE Doppler velocities are equal to the component of the electron drift velocity. We found (b) that if the data points are averages over 100 m/s intervals (bins) of l-o-s electron velocities and 10 deg intervals (bins) of flow angles, then the largest STARE Doppler velocities always reside inside the bin with the largest flow angle. In the flow angle bin 80° the STARE Doppler velocity is larger than its driver term, i.e. the EISCAT l-o-s electron drift velocity component, |VirrN,F|>|VE×Blos|. Both features (a and b) as well as the weak flow angle velocity dependence indicate that the l-o-s electron drift velocity cannot be the sole factor which controls the motion of the backscatter ~1-m irregularities at large flow angles. Importantly, the backscatter was collected at aspect angle ~1° and flow angle Θ>60°, where linear fluid and kinetic theories invariably predict negative growth rates. At least qualitatively, all the facts can be reasonably explained by nonlinear wave-wave coupling found and described by Kudeki and Farley (1989), Lu et al. (2008) for the equatorial electrojet and studied in numerical simulation by Otani and Oppenheim (1998, 2006).

scholarly journals A possible origin for large aspect angle "HAIR'' echoes seen by SuperDARN radars in the E region

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Drexler ◽  
J.-P. St.-Maurice
Keyword(s):  
Mode Conversion ◽  
Acoustic Mode ◽  
Aspect Angle ◽  
Ion Drift ◽  
Doppler Shifts ◽  
Ion Acoustic ◽  
Close Range ◽  
E Region ◽  
Wave Conversion ◽  
Strongly Damped

Abstract. Milan2004 have recently reported on close-range E region decameter size echoes that seem to be relatively weak, have apparently unusually large aspect angles, and possess Doppler shifts that are slow and are clearly consistent with the ion drift of the medium as opposed to, say, its electron drift or its ion-acoustic speed. We argue that these irregularities are the result of a nonlinear wave conversion process triggered by the nonlocal evolution of decameter Farley-Buneman waves. According to this picture, structures which have weak spontaneous growth rates and are initially field-aligned undergo an evolution of their aspect angle that results in a jump in the aspect angle at some point in time and space. When this takes place, a rapid mode conversion must follow, which takes energy away from a standard two-stream signature and converts it either to a strongly damped ion-acoustic mode or to a purely decaying mode, depending on altitude.

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