Abstract
We conducted meteor observations during the Leonid meteor shower on 16 November 2017 and 17 November 2018 with Langfang medium frequency (MF) radar (116° E, 40° N). This was the first nighttime meteor observation by MF radar in mid-latitude China. The observation period was 12:00–22:00 (UT) and the observation range was 78–150 km. By using broad vertical beams, totally 94 and 92 meteor echoes were obtained, along with their spatial, time and height distribution. Quite a few meteor echoes are within 30° zenith angles, from the southwest direction, and with a mean height of 107 km which is almost 10 km higher than traditional VHF (Very High Frequency) meteor radar observations. Initial bi-hourly and nightly averaged wind profiles were calculated, and well fitted the wind estimations by co-located VHF meteor radar at the altitude of 100–110 km. On the other side, echoes around 140 km are successfully detected in our observation, which may suggest that for most running MF radars, meteor echoes around 140 km altitude could be detected with a sampling pulse frequency less than 100 Hz.
Highlights
Medium frequency (MF) radars operating at 1.5–3 MHz are powerful tools for obtaining wind field and electron density profiles from 60 to 100 km using techniques such as full correlation analysis (FCA) and differential absorption experiment (DAE) methods, which both have greatly contributed to short- and long-term atmospheric dynamic studies in the middle atmosphere [1,2,3]
The relatively lower radio frequency of MF radar helps for detecting more meteor echoes than meteor radar in this region, which has been verified by Olsson-Steel and Elford that meteor echoes can exist up to 140 km altitude [8]
We report nighttime meteor observations with Langfang MF radar at altitudes greater than 100 km, which is the first time such observations have been conducted in mid-latitude
Summary
Medium frequency (MF) radars operating at 1.5–3 MHz are powerful tools for obtaining wind field and electron density profiles from 60 to 100 km using techniques such as full correlation analysis (FCA) and differential absorption experiment (DAE) methods, which both have greatly contributed to short- and long-term atmospheric dynamic studies in the middle atmosphere [1,2,3]. The FCA method itself shows large discrepancies at altitudes greater than 100 km [5] It is difficult for conventional MF radars to make precise wind estimates above approximately 100 km, despite that this region has complicated dynamic changes and is of great significance. The relatively lower radio frequency of MF radar helps for detecting more meteor echoes than meteor radar in this region, which has been verified by Olsson-Steel and Elford that meteor echoes can exist up to 140 km altitude [8] It has an advantage of compensating for the known problems of MF radar FCA techniques above around 90 km [5].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
