Open AccessInterferometry investigations of VHF backscatter from plasma irregularity patches in the nighttime E region using the Chung‐Li radar
Author(s) -
Chu YenHsyang,
Wang ChienYa
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/98ja02329
Subject(s) - radar , interferometry , backscatter (email) , azimuth , geology , doppler effect , sporadic e propagation , optics , spectral line , geodesy , electron density , physics , phase (matter) , plasma , geophysics , ionosphere , astronomy , quantum mechanics , computer science , wireless , telecommunications
Backscatter spectra with extremely narrow spectral width of only 2 to 7 m/s and small mean Doppler velocity of 10 to 30 m/s associated with plasma irregularity patches in nighttime sporadic E layers have been obtained with the Chung‐Li VHF radar. The radar interferometer shows these echoes to be highly aspect sensitive with striated structures in the horizontal and azimuthal planes. By considering the spatial distributions of the Es echoes and the geometry of the effective radar beam, we propose a schematic model in which multiple thin and tilted Es layers with steep electron density gradients are drifting across the illuminated region. The results show that the layers appear to be tilted toward east at angles of 3° to 14°, and their horizontal drift velocities (obtained by tracking the patches with the interferometer phase) imply primarily eastward motions at speeds of 7.5 to 56.2 m/s.