Coherent radar doppler measurements and their relationship to the ionospheric electron drift velocity

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA090iA04p03498· OSTI ID:5548849

Nielsen, E; Schlegel, K

We have examined the relationship between the radial mean Doppler velocities observed with coherent radars, such as in the STARE (Scandinavian Twin Auroral Radar Experiment) system, and the electron drift velocities observed with an incoherent scatter facility. The two sets of measurements were made simultaneously and can with high accuracy be related to a common magnetic flux tube. We find that the Doppler velocities of electron density irregularities produced by the two-stream instability in the E region are limited to a value near the ion acoustic velocity. Moreover, we find that this value is a strong function of the electron drift velocity, in agreement with theoretical predictions. An algorithm has been determined which enables us to use the STARE data to derive estimates of the electron drift velocity which are in excellent agreement with values deduced from EISCAT (European Incoherent Scatter Facility) data.

• Research Organization: Max-Planck-Institut fuer Aeronomie, Lindau, Federal Republic of Germany
• OSTI ID: 5548849
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 90:A4; 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
ALGORITHMS
COHERENT RADIATION
DATA
DOPPLER EFFECT
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON DRIFT
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUXMETERS
INFORMATION
IONOSPHERE
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NUMERICAL DATA
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADIATIONS
VELOCITY