Type-3 echoes of radar aurora: Observational aspects

Mathematics – Probability

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

5

Auroral Echoes, Auroral Spectroscopy, Doppler Effect, Doppler Radar, Radar Echoes, Backscattering, Earth Ionosphere, Histograms, Spectral Signatures, Spectrum Analysis

Scientific paper

Type-3 echoes observed at auroral latitudes by coherent radars have two distinguishing spectral characteristics: they are relatively narrow and have small Doppler shifts. It has never been entirely clear whether this is characteristic of a new mechanism of plasma instability or whether these echoes are just a subset of normal Type-1 (Farley-Bunemann) spectra with unusually small Doppler shifts. In this paper, a large number of spectra gathered during two 50-MHz radar observing campaigns in 1981 and 1983 have been examined in order to see whether there is any statistical basis for postulating a separate class of echo and, if so, to determine which properties these echoes have. From the data presented, it appears that Type-3 echoes are, indeed, a separate class. In agreement with previous observations, the data show that these echoes do not appear to be quantified in Doppler velocity but are spread over a range of velocities. There is a strong dependence on aspect angle, with Type-3 echoes appearing preferentially on radar paths where the aspect angles are significantly different from `perfect' aspect. For these high aspect angle paths, there appears to be no marked dependence of the probability of occurrence of Type-3 echoes on the orientation of the radar beam with respect to the ambient electric field direction. Finally, there is some suggestion that Type-3 peaks are often accompanied by harmonically related spectral peaks.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Type-3 echoes of radar aurora: Observational aspects 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 Type-3 echoes of radar aurora: Observational aspects, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Type-3 echoes of radar aurora: Observational aspects will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1818422

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.