Abstract
Abstract. Accurately mapping the location of ionospheric backscatter targets (density irregularities) identified by the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) HF radars can be a major problem, particularly at far ranges for which the radio propagation paths are longer and more uncertain. Assessing and increasing the accuracy of the mapping of scattering locations is crucial for the measurement of two-dimensional velocity structures on the small and meso-scale, for which overlapping velocity measurements from two radars need to be combined, and for studies in which SuperDARN data are used in conjunction with measurements from other instruments. The co-ordinates of scattering locations are presently estimated using a combination of the measured range and a model virtual height, assuming a straight line virtual propagation path. By studying elevation angle of arrival information of backscatterred signals from 5 years of data (1997–2001) from the Saskatoon SuperDARN radar we have determined the actual distribution of the backscatter target locations in range-virtual height space. This has allowed the derivation of a new empirical virtual height model that allows for a more accurate mapping of the locations of backscatter targets.
Highlights
Coherent scatter radars are one of the most successful instruments used for probing dynamical processes in the Earth’s ionosphere
In contrast to ultra high frequency (UHF) and very high frequency (VHF) signals, high frequency (HF) radio signals are very susceptible to refractive effects (Weaver, 1965), and variations in ionospheric electron density play a major role in HF
A large proportion of the backscatter measured by the Saskatoon radar have reliable elevation angle measurements with a good coverage in range, frequency, and magnetic local time (MLT), and with only a small percentage of ground backscatter
Summary
Coherent scatter radars are one of the most successful instruments used for probing dynamical processes in the Earth’s ionosphere. If we assume initially that all backscatter results from a 21 hop propagation path (which only applies in reality to the two lower-range distributions in Fig. 3), and we assume a spherical Earth, it is possible to determine the virtual height h1 of each pixel in Fig. 3 with elevation angle α and range www.ann-geophys.net/26/823/2008/
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