Doppler spectra of the UHF diffuse radio aurora

Journal Article · Fri Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA093iA07p07425· OSTI ID:5153147

Hall, G E; Moorcroft, D R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Western Ontario, London (Canada)

A large number of radar backscatter Doppler spectra from the 398-MHz phased array at Homer, Alaska, have been analyzed for representative periods of widespread, long-lasting radar echoes in the premidnight and postmidnight sectors. Spectra corresponding to type 1 and type 2 echoes were observed. The type 1 spectra were most evident in the postmidnight data, where they appeared as velocity plateaus in azimuthal scans at the farther ranges. The type 2, low-velocity spectra were generally observed only in the absence of type 1 echoes. The spectral widths if the type 2 spectra were consistent with decay rates estimated by linear theory, as might be expected for dissipative waves at the short-wavelength end of a turbulent cascade. The velocity plateaus and other features of the azimuthal and range variation of Doppler velocity can be understood if the auroral electrojet is assumed to have moderate variations in direction on a scale of tens of kilometers. It was possible to obtain from the Doppler data qualitative estimates of the electric field, whose variation in time and latitude was in general agreement with the model electrojet configuration of Kamide and Vickrey (1983).

• OSTI ID: 5153147
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Journal Issue: A7 Vol. 93:A7; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640201* -- Atmospheric Physics-- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magetospheric Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
AURORAL ZONES
BACKSCATTERING
CURRENTS
DATA ANALYSIS
E REGION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTROJETS
INSTABILITY
IONOSPHERE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA WAVES
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SCATTERING
VARIATIONS