Statistical analysis of the spatial relationship between the radio and optical aurora - Further evidence for refraction

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Radio Science; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/92RS00570· OSTI ID:6893001

Prikryl, P; Cogger, L L ^[1]

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1. Saskatchewan, University, Saskatoon (Canada) Calgary, University, (Canada)

Recent studies have found strong evidence that ionospheric refraction can explain some of the large aspect angle VHF radio aurora observations. The spatial relationship between such observations made with the Bistatic Auroral Radar System (BARS) and simultaneous 557.7-nm emissions detected by an Al-Sky Imager (ASI) has been found consistent with the above idea (Hall et al., 1990). In this paper, further results of a cross-correlation analysis of the BARS and ASI intensities are presented. Two-dimensional as well as one-dimensional (along radar beam direction) cross-correlation functions are computed for a large statistical sample of 4 months of data. It is found that for all levels of ASI intensity and/or BARS power, stronger radar echoes predominantly occur on the remote side of the optical aurorae. The results are in agreement with the model calculation of refraction by Watermann (1990). In the premidnight sector, some of the brightest aurorae are found coincident with the strongest radar echoes, and a significant fraction of weaker radar echoes occur equatorward of fainter auroral forms. 15 refs.

• OSTI ID: 6893001
• Journal Information: Radio Science; (United States), Journal Name: Radio Science; (United States) Vol. 27:4; ISSN 0048-6604; ISSN RASCAD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AURORAE
CORRELATIONS
DISTRIBUTION
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
IONOSPHERE
MATHEMATICS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
RADAR
RADIATIONS
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
RANGE FINDERS
REFRACTION
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
SPECTRA
STATISTICS
VISIBLE SPECTRA
WAVE PROPAGATION