A VHF Thomson Scatter Radar Study of the Midlatitude Ionosphere Using the Faraday Effect

摘要

In recent years Thomson scatter radars have provided the upper-air physicist with a detailed view of the topside ionosphere. These instruments are generally capable of providing continuous information about the electron concentration between a height of roughly 100 km and the base of the exosphere. This report describes some results obtained with the Randle Cliff Radar, a new midlatitude Thomson scatter facility which utilizes Faraday rotation for the purpose of deducing electron density. An operating frequency of 140 MHz is employed at Randle Cliff, and this frequency is about optimum for making such measurements. In this report an investigation of Faraday dispersion id detailed, and this usually deleterious phenomenon is utilized in an alternative scheme to determine electron density profiles. Other features of the study include: a comparison of Thomson scatter results with total electron content deduced from ATS-5 satellite transmissions, a detection of quasi-periodicites over Randle Cliff and their relationship to internal gravity waves, and discussions of the midday biteout and F region response to solar eclipse. (Author)