Radar observations of ionospheric irregularities at Syowa Station, Antarctica: a brief overview

摘要

We briefly overview the radar observationsthat have been made for 30 years at Syowa Station, Antarctica for studyingsmall-scale electron-density irregularities in the southern high-latitude E-and F-region ionosphere. Some observational results (i.e., long-termvariations of radio aurora, Doppler spectra with narrow spectral widths and lowDoppler velocities, and simultaneous observations of radar and optical auroras)from VHF radars capable of detecting 1.3- to 3-m scale irregularities arepresented. A new 50-MHz radar system equipped with phased-antenna arrays beganoperation in February 1995 to observe two-dimensional behaviours of E-regionirregularities. An HF radar experiment also began in February 1995 to exploredecameter-scale E- and F-region irregularities in the auroral zoneand polar cap. These two radars will contribute to a better understanding of theionospheric irregularities and ionospheric physics at southern high latitudes.