Some results of measurement of atmospheric temperature and density using artificial periodic inhomogeneities of the ionospheric plasma

Abstract

We present the preliminary results of measurement of atmospheric temperature and density at the E-region heights near Nizhny Novgorod in the 1990–1991 period (λ=56.15°N, ϕ=44.3°E). The monthly mean temperature and density are given in the height interval 100–110 km for September and October 1990. The temporal variations of temperature and density, associated with the propagation of acoustic-gravity and internal waves, are presented. The influence of natural turbulence on the measurement accuracy has been analyzed. The method is based on the generation of artificial periodic inhomogeneities (APIs) by a powerful radio wave and registration of the amplitudes of pulse probe radio waves backscattered by APIs.