An update on UHF radar meteor observations and associated signal processing techniques at Arecibo Observatory

Abstract

Over the past 8 years UHF radar meteor observations made at Arecibo Observatory (Puerto Rico) have evolved significantly while several long-standing meteor science issues have been solved and new ones raised. We start with a review of the current signal processing approach that includes significant new techniques with respect to identification of a meteor event and the eventual extraction of physical parameters. We then consider some basic radio science issues surrounding these observations. Current Doppler observations—now available with Doppler resolutions of <10 m/ s for meteor speeds ranging to nearly 100 km/ s —have underscored issues related to the speed-distribution of at least micrometeoroids. Radar scattering mechanisms and the possibility of bias in the reported observations are considered. Additionally, we emphasize that the technique described here is almost entirely distinct from the classical trail-echo meteor radars.