Quantification of neutral turbulence in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere using EISCAT and ESR

• Main Author: C. M. Hall
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: Tromso Geophysical Observatory, University of Tromso 2000
• Subjects: Svalbard; EISCAT; Advances in polar upper atmosphere research
• Online Access: https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_uri&item_id=6317; http://id.nii.ac.jp/1291/00006317/; https://nipr.repo.nii.ac.jp/?action=repository_action_common_download&item_id=6317&item_no=1&attribute_id=18&file_no=1

Incoherent scatter radar have traditionally determined four ionospheric parameters: electron density, ion temperature, electron temperature and ion velocity. From these it is possible to derive further atmospheric parameters such as electric field. In order to detect neutral turbulence, a radar's wavelength must be somewhat longer than that used for incoherent scatter, such that scattering arises from turbulent "eddies" instead of plasma waves. However, by using a suitably high height and time resolution, it is possible to investigate turbulence from the velocity information alone. This review will describe the methods hitherto used to quantify neutral turbulence in this way and using the EISCAT incoherent scatter systems on the Norwegian mainland and Svalbard.