4.7 Meteor Radar Rates and the Solar Cycle

Abstract

Long-term variations in meteor radar rates, echo amplitudes, and meteor end-point heights have been observed. These variations appear to be controlled to a large extent by the solar cycle of activity. Exceptionally high echo rates in 1953, 1963 and 1972 coincide approximately with solar cycle minima. The long-term variations are explained in terms of a solar controlled change in the atmospheric density gradient at the meteor ablation level.