Spatial observations by the CUTLASS coherent scatter radar of ionospheric modification by high power radio waves

Results are presented from an experimental campaign in April 1996, in which the new CUTLASS (Co-operative UK twin-located Auroral Sounding System) coherent scatter radar was employed to observe artificial field aligned irregularities (FAI) generated by the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter) heatin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annales Geophysicae
Main Authors: G. E. Bond, T. R. Robinson, P. Eglitis, D. M. Wright, A. J. Stocker, M. T. Rietveld, T. B. Jones
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 1997
Subjects:
Q
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s00585-997-1412-4
https://doaj.org/article/0adf07326392467fa3532e01152a5637
Description
Summary:Results are presented from an experimental campaign in April 1996, in which the new CUTLASS (Co-operative UK twin-located Auroral Sounding System) coherent scatter radar was employed to observe artificial field aligned irregularities (FAI) generated by the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter) heating facility at Tromsø, Norway. The distribution of backscatter intensity from within the heated region has been investigated both in azimuth and range with the Finland component of CUTLASS, and the first observations of artificial irregularities by the Iceland radar are also presented. The heated region has been measured to extend over a horizontal distance of 170±50km, which by comparison with a model of the heater beam pattern corresponds to a threshold electric field for FAI of between 0.1 and 0.01V/m. Differences between field-aligned and vertical propagation heating are also presented.