Analysis of Simultaneous Polar Fox II Backscatter and Ionospheric Sounding Data

• Main Authors: Gassmann, G J, Buchau, J
• Other Authors: AIR FORCE CAMBRIDGE RESEARCH LABS HANSCOM AFB MA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1972
• Subjects: Atmospheric Physics; *ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING; AURORAE; CORRELATION TECHNIQUES; IONOSPHERE; MAINE; OPTICAL ANALYSIS; RADAR REFLECTIONS; SCIENTIFIC SATELLITES; POLAR FOX 2 RADAR; REMOTE SENSING; polar fox
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0747027; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0747027

Backscatter data from the northward-looking POLAR FOX II radar were simultaneously taken with airborne and ground-based ionospheric soundings and optical data supplemented by satellite observations. The detailed ionization contour lines in the region from 0 to 2000 km north of POLAR FOX II, obtained for a period of about 2 hours before local midnight in December, explain why only a small range section of ground could be seen during this period. Aspect- sensitive direct backscatter echoes from field-aligned laminae both in the E- and F-layer were dominant and were found to be reflected from latitudes where vertical soundings show spread-E and -F. Those regions appear to be identical to the auroral E (night E) layer and 'plasma ring' F layer known to be associated with the auroral oval. Presented at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif., 3 May 1972.