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A simplified interferometer design for use with meteor radars
Author(s) -
Poole L. M. G.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
radio science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1944-799X
pISSN - 0048-6604
DOI - 10.1029/2002rs002778
Subject(s) - meteor (satellite) , interferometry , radar , remote sensing , echo (communications protocol) , azimuth , antenna (radio) , geology , direction finding , geodesy , computer science , physics , optics , meteorology , telecommunications , computer network
A relatively simple design for a meteor radar interferometer with 4 receiving antennas is described. A basic 3 element interferometer provides a set of possible directions for each radio echo detected. The ambiguity is resolved using a 4th antenna, placed according to the results of a numerical simulation. Details of the procedure are provided. The resolution in echo direction is between ∼1° and ∼2° for altitudes (elevations) above ∼30° at all azimuths. A general purpose meteor radar based on this principle has been in use since 1986 at Grahamstown, South Africa.