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Long‐term‐mean aspect sensitivity of PMSE determined from Poker Flat MST radar data
Author(s) -
Huaman Mercedes M.,
Balsley Ben B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl00708
Subject(s) - sensitivity (control systems) , mesosphere , term (time) , radar , geodesy , atmospheric sciences , environmental science , meteorology , geology , remote sensing , physics , stratosphere , telecommunications , astronomy , electronic engineering , computer science , engineering
Results of a long‐term study of aspect sensitivity of Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSE) are presented using archived Poker Flat MST radar (65°08′N; 147°27′W) data. We have used data from the PMSE region (80‐ to 90‐ km) during the months of June and July for the years 1981–84, when three antenna beams were available, one beam pointing vertical and two beams pointing 15° off‐vertical. Comparisons of calibrated vertical and 15°off‐vertical monthly‐average echo power profiles for each of the summer months show that VHF scattering from PMSE is strongly aspect sensitive at the lowest heights (∼80 km), and exhibits a clear decrease of aspect sensitivity with increasing height. Comparison of monthly‐average aspect sensitivity profiles during the four‐year period shows a reasonable consistency throughout the years. The composite four‐year‐average aspect sensitivity profile for the months of June and July data suggests a strong tendency to isotropy at the higher mesospheric heights.