Numerical analysis of the response of HF radar to meteor backscatter detection

Abstract

The response of a high frequency radar system to echoes from underdense meteor trails is numerically calculated. The strengths and limitations of radar detection of meteors at different radar frequencies have been studied based on standard theory. The standard theory takes into account the initial trail radius, the finite meteor velocity, and the radial diffusion. The significance of the pulse repetition frequency and the data sampling interval has been investigated. Height distributions of underdense meteor echoes are predicted, based on standard theory, as a function of radar frequency. The study shows that radars operating at wavelengths of around 5–15 m are unable to detect high-altitude meteors owing to wavelength-dependent ceilings. Long-wavelength radars operating around 15–60 m are potentially able to detect many more underdense meteor echoes than radars operating around 5–15 m. However, there are many important factors influencing the observation of meteors at low radio frequencies and the advantages and drawbacks of radar detection of meteors at low frequency are specifically discussed.