Joint Fall 2017 Meeting of the Texas Section of the APS, Texas Section of the AAPT, and Zone 13 of the Society of Physics Students
Volume 62, Number 16
Friday–Saturday, October 20–21, 2017;
The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
Session B7: Space Physics
2:45 PM–3:45 PM,
Friday, October 20, 2017
JSOM
Room: 1.107
Chair: David Lary, University of Texas at Dallas
Abstract ID: BAPS.2017.TSF.B7.1
Abstract: B7.00001 : New two-dimensional radar observations of equatorial spread F at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory*
2:45 PM–3:09 PM
Preview Abstract
Abstract
Author:
Fabiano Rodrigues
(The University of Texas at Dallas)
Equatorial spread-F (ESF) is the general name given, for historical reasons,
to low-latitude disturbances in the Earth's ionospheric plasma density and
their signatures in different types of ionospheric sensors. The study of ESF
is motivated by a better understanding of fundamental space plasma dynamics.
It is also motivated by the impact of ESF on the propagation of signals used
in civil and military applications.
Significant contributions to our understanding of ESF dynamics have been
made by ground-based radar observations at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory
in Peru. The observatory is equipped with radar systems capable of making
observations of the quiescent and turbulent states of the ionospheric
plasma. Until recently, however, a steerable radar capability was not
available to Jicamarca, which limited the observations to a few degrees
within zenith.
In 2014, a 14-panel version of the advanced modular incoherent scatter radar
(AMISR-14) system was deployed at Jicamarca. AMISR is a modular, mobile
radar facility with electronic steering capability to be used for studies of
the Earth's upper atmosphere and space weather. A full AMISR-14 consisting
of 128 building-block like (TX/RX) panels is capable of making measurements
of the quiescent plasma and infer ionospheric parameters such as ion and
electron temperatures, electron density, ion composition, and ion velocity.
While AMISR-14 was not expected to be capable of making such measurements,
tests were performed to investigate its ability to detect echoes from ESF
irregularities.
Two campaigns of AMISR-14 observations of ESF were performed at Jicamarca;
one in August 2014 and another in July/August 2016. Analyses of the
measurements show that not only ESF echoes can be detected by AMISR, but the
dynamics of the ESF events in the magnetic equatorial plane can be inferred
from a mode that takes advantage of the beam steering capability.
In this talk, we will provide a brief introduction to ESF, followed by a
description of ESF measurements using radar systems. We will then present
examples of the new measurements made with AMISR-14. The observations are
discussed in terms of ESF theory, and simultaneous observations made by
collocated instruments.
*Research sponsored by AFOSR (FA9550-13-1-0095).
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2017.TSF.B7.1