SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase

Details SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase

Oct 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002angeo..20.1631g&link_type=abstract

Annales Geophysicae, vol. 20, Issue 10, pp.1631-1645

Physics

7

Scientific paper

Coherent scatter HF ionospheric radar systems such as SuperDARN offer a powerful experimental technique for the investigation of the magnetospheric substorm. However, a common signature in the early expansion phase is a loss of HF backscatter, which has limited the utility of the radar systems in substorm research. Such data loss has generally been attributed to either HF absorption in the D-region ionosphere, or the consequence of regions of very low ionospheric electric field. Here observations from a well-instrumented isolated substorm which resulted in such a characteristic HF radar data loss are examined to explore the impact of the substorm expansion phase on the HF radar system. The radar response from the SuperDARN Hankasalmi system is interpreted in the context of data from the EIS-CAT incoherent scatter radar systems and the IRIS Riometer at Kilpisjarvi, along with calculations of HF absorption for both IRIS and Hankasalmi and ray-tracing simulations. Such a study offers an explanation of the physical mechanisms behind the HF radar data loss phenomenon. It is found that, at least for the case study presented, the major cause of data loss is not HF absorption, but changes in HF propagation conditions. These result in the loss of many propagation paths for radar backscatter, but also the creation of some new, viable propagation paths. The implications for the use of the characteristics of the data loss as a diagnostic of the substorm process, HF communications channels, and possible radar operational strategies which might mitigate the level of HF radar data loss, are discussed.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and SuperDARN radar HF propagation and absorption response to the substorm expansion phase will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1660420