The possibility of using all-sky meteor radar to observe ionospheric E-region field-aligned irregularities
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摘要
All-sky meteor radars are primarily used for meteor observations. This paper reports the first observations of ionospheric Eregion field-aligned irregularities(FAIs) from a conventional all-sky meteor radar located at Wuhan(31°N, 114°E) for the period of March–June 2018. E-region FAI echoes evident in range-time intensity(RTI) maps show quasiperiodic striations with positive and negative slopes, which are consistent with multiple FAI structures moving across the wide beam of the meteor radar. A statistical analysis shows that out of a total of 111 d, there are 73 d with E-region FAI echoes detected by the meteor radar. The FAI events correspond well with the presence of sporadic-E layers which provide the necessary plasma density gradient for the development of gradient drift instability producing FAIs. The results demonstrate the capability of conventional meteor radars to make simultaneous routine observations of meteors and ionospheric E-region FAIs through incorporating RTI and spectral analysis into the online realtime data processing. Meteor radar observations could potentially address the limitations of ionospheric radars, which cannot provide simultaneous measurements of neutral winds and irregularity structures, and thereby contribute to better understanding of the dynamical processes producing E-region irregularities.
All-sky meteor radars are primarily used for meteor observations. This paper reports the first observations of ionospheric Eregion field-aligned irregularities(FAIs) from a conventional all-sky meteor radar located at Wuhan(31°N, 114°E) for the period of March–June 2018. E-region FAI echoes evident in range-time intensity(RTI) maps show quasiperiodic striations with positive and negative slopes, which are consistent with multiple FAI structures moving across the wide beam of the meteor radar. A statistical analysis shows that out of a total of 111 d, there are 73 d with E-region FAI echoes detected by the meteor radar. The FAI events correspond well with the presence of sporadic-E layers which provide the necessary plasma density gradient for the development of gradient drift instability producing FAIs. The results demonstrate the capability of conventional meteor radars to make simultaneous routine observations of meteors and ionospheric E-region FAIs through incorporating RTI and spectral analysis into the online realtime data processing. Meteor radar observations could potentially address the limitations of ionospheric radars, which cannot provide simultaneous measurements of neutral winds and irregularity structures, and thereby contribute to better understanding of the dynamical processes producing E-region irregularities.
All-sky meteor radars are primarily used for meteor observations. This paper reports the first observations of ionospheric Eregion field-aligned irregularities(FAIs) from a conventional all-sky meteor radar located at Wuhan(31°N, 114°E) for the period of March–June 2018. E-region FAI echoes evident in range-time intensity(RTI) maps show quasiperiodic striations with positive and negative slopes, which are consistent with multiple FAI structures moving across the wide beam of the meteor radar. A statistical analysis shows that out of a total of 111 d, there are 73 d with E-region FAI echoes detected by the meteor radar. The FAI events correspond well with the presence of sporadic-E layers which provide the necessary plasma density gradient for the development of gradient drift instability producing FAIs. The results demonstrate the capability of conventional meteor radars to make simultaneous routine observations of meteors and ionospheric E-region FAIs through incorporating RTI and spectral analysis into the online realtime data processing. Meteor radar observations could potentially address the limitations of ionospheric radars, which cannot provide simultaneous measurements of neutral winds and irregularity structures, and thereby contribute to better understanding of the dynamical processes producing E-region irregularities.
引文
1 Hysell D L,Burcham J D.The 30-MHz radar interferometer studies of midlatitude E region irregularities.J Geophys Res,2000,105:12797-12812
2 Lu F,Farley D T,Swartz W E.Spread in aspect angles of equatorial Eregion irregularities.J Geophys Res,2008,113:A11309
3 Yamamoto M,Fukao S,Woodman R F,et al.Mid-latitude E region field-aligned irregularities observed with the MU radar.J Geophys Res,1991,96:15943-15949
4 Kagan L M,Kelley M C.A wind-driven gradient drift mechanism for mid-latitude E-region ionospheric irregularities.Geophys Res Lett,1998,25:4141-4144
5 Chau J L,Woodman R F.Low-latitude quasiperiodic echoes observed with the Piura VHF Radar in the E region.Geophys Res Lett,1999,26:2167-2170
6 Chu Y H,Wang C Y.An evidence of beam broadening effect dominating Doppler spectra of field-aligned irregularities in sporadic Eregion made with the Chung-Li radar.J Geophys Res,2005,110:A09305
7 Venkateswara Rao N,Patra A K,Rao S V B.Some new aspects of low-latitude E-region QP echoes revealed by Gadanki radar:Are they due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability or gravity waves?J Geophys Res,2008,113:A03309
8 Hocking W K,Thayaparan T,Jones J.Meteor decay times and their use in determining a diagnostic mesospheric Temperature-pressure parameter:Methodology and one year of data.Geophys Res Lett,1997,24:2977-2980
9 Holdsworth D A,Reid I M,Cervera M A.Buckland park all-sky interferometric meteor radar.Radio Sci,2004,39:RS5009
10 Reid I M.MF and HF radar techniques for investigating the dynamics and structure of the 50 to 110 km height region:A review.Prog Earth Planet Sci,2015,2:33
11 Jones J,Jones W.Meteor radiant activity mapping using single-station radar observations.Mon Not R Astron Soc,2006,367:1050-1056
12 Dou X K,Xue X H,Li T,et al.Possible relations between meteors,enhanced electron density layers,and sporadic sodium layers.JGeophys Res,2010,115:A06311
13 Li G,Ning B,Hu L,et al.A comparison of lower thermospheric winds derived from range spread and specular meteor trail echoes.J Geophys Res,2012,117:A03310
14 Younger J P,Reid I M,Li G,et al.Observations of the new camelopardalids meteor shower using a 38.9 MHz radar at Mohe,China.Icarus,2015,253:25-30
15 Lee C,Kim J H,Jee G,et al.New method of estimating temperatures near the mesopause region using meteor radar observations.Geophys Res Lett,2016,43:10580-10585
16 Liu L,Liu H,Chen Y,et al.Variations of the meteor echo heights at Beijing and Mohe,China.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2017,122:1117-1127
17 Gong Y,Li C,Ma Z,et al.Study of the quasi-5-day wave in the MLTregion by a meteor radar chain.J Geophys Res Atmosph,2018,123:9474-9487
18 Yi W,Reid I M,Xue X,et al.High-and middle-latitude neutral mesospheric density response to geomagnetic storms.Geophys Res Lett,2018,45:436-444
19 Ning B Q,Hu L H,Li G Z,et al.The first time observations of lowlatitude ionospheric irregularities by VHF radar in Hainan.Sci China Tech Sci,2012,55:1189-1197
20 Li G,Ning B,Hu L,et al.Observations on the field-aligned irregularities using Sanya VHF radar:2 low latitude ionospheric E-region quasi-periodic echoes in the East Asian sector.Chin J Geophys,2013,56:2141-2151
21 Li G Z,Ning B Q,Hu L H.Interferometry observations of lowlatitude E-region irregularity patches using the Sanya VHF radar.Sci China Tech Sci,2014,57:1552-1561
22 Li G Z,Ning B Q,Li A,et al.First results of optical meteor and meteor trail irregularity from simultaneous Sanya radar and video observations.Earth Planet Phys,2018,2:15-21
23 Li G,Ning B,Chu Y H,et al.Structural evolution of long-duration meteor trail irregularities driven by neutral wind.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2014,119:10,348-10,357
24 Zhou C,Liu Y,Tang Q,et al.Investigation on the occurrence of midlatitude E-region irregularity by Wuhan VHF radar and its relationship with sporadic E layer.IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens,2018,56:7207-7216
25 Tsunoda R T,Fukao S,Yamamoto M.On the origin of quasi-periodic radar backscatter from midlatitude sporadic E.Radio Sci,1994,29:349-365
26 Larsen M F.A shear instability seeding mechanism for quasiperiodic radar echoes.J Geophys Res,2000,105:24931-24940
27 Ogawa T,Takahashi O,Otsuka Y,et al.Simultaneous middle and upper atmosphere radar and ionospheric sounder observations of midlatitude E region irregularities and sporadic E layer.J Geophys Res,2002,107:1275
28 Patra A K,Sripathi S,Sivakumar V,et al.Statistical characteristics of VHF radar observations of low latitude E-region field-aligned irregularities over Gadanki.J Atmos Sol-Terrestrial Phys,2004,66:1615-1626
29 Xie H Y,Ning B Q,Zhao X K,et al.Case study of simultaneous observations of sporadic sodium layer,E-region field-aligned irregularities and sporadic E layer at low latitude of China.Adv Space Res,2017,59:1559-1567
30 Yu Y,Wan W,Ning B,et al.Tidal wind mapping from observations of a meteor radar chain in December 2011.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2013,118:2321-2332
31 Xue X H,Dou X K,Lei J,et al.Lower thermospheric-enhanced sodium layers observed at low latitude and possible formation:Case studies.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2013,118:2409-2418
32 Haldoupis C.Midlatitude sporadic E.A typical paradigm of atmosphere-ionosphere coupling.Space Sci Rev,2012,168:441-461
33 Haldoupis C,Schlegel K.Characteristics of midlatitude coherent backscatter from the ionospheric E region obtained with sporadic Escatter experiment.J Geophys Res,1996,101:13387-13397
34 Shalimov S,Haldoupis C,Schlegel K.Large polarization electric fields associated with midlatitude sporadic E.J Geophys Res,1998,103:11617-11625
2 Lu F,Farley D T,Swartz W E.Spread in aspect angles of equatorial Eregion irregularities.J Geophys Res,2008,113:A11309
3 Yamamoto M,Fukao S,Woodman R F,et al.Mid-latitude E region field-aligned irregularities observed with the MU radar.J Geophys Res,1991,96:15943-15949
4 Kagan L M,Kelley M C.A wind-driven gradient drift mechanism for mid-latitude E-region ionospheric irregularities.Geophys Res Lett,1998,25:4141-4144
5 Chau J L,Woodman R F.Low-latitude quasiperiodic echoes observed with the Piura VHF Radar in the E region.Geophys Res Lett,1999,26:2167-2170
6 Chu Y H,Wang C Y.An evidence of beam broadening effect dominating Doppler spectra of field-aligned irregularities in sporadic Eregion made with the Chung-Li radar.J Geophys Res,2005,110:A09305
7 Venkateswara Rao N,Patra A K,Rao S V B.Some new aspects of low-latitude E-region QP echoes revealed by Gadanki radar:Are they due to Kelvin-Helmholtz instability or gravity waves?J Geophys Res,2008,113:A03309
8 Hocking W K,Thayaparan T,Jones J.Meteor decay times and their use in determining a diagnostic mesospheric Temperature-pressure parameter:Methodology and one year of data.Geophys Res Lett,1997,24:2977-2980
9 Holdsworth D A,Reid I M,Cervera M A.Buckland park all-sky interferometric meteor radar.Radio Sci,2004,39:RS5009
10 Reid I M.MF and HF radar techniques for investigating the dynamics and structure of the 50 to 110 km height region:A review.Prog Earth Planet Sci,2015,2:33
11 Jones J,Jones W.Meteor radiant activity mapping using single-station radar observations.Mon Not R Astron Soc,2006,367:1050-1056
12 Dou X K,Xue X H,Li T,et al.Possible relations between meteors,enhanced electron density layers,and sporadic sodium layers.JGeophys Res,2010,115:A06311
13 Li G,Ning B,Hu L,et al.A comparison of lower thermospheric winds derived from range spread and specular meteor trail echoes.J Geophys Res,2012,117:A03310
14 Younger J P,Reid I M,Li G,et al.Observations of the new camelopardalids meteor shower using a 38.9 MHz radar at Mohe,China.Icarus,2015,253:25-30
15 Lee C,Kim J H,Jee G,et al.New method of estimating temperatures near the mesopause region using meteor radar observations.Geophys Res Lett,2016,43:10580-10585
16 Liu L,Liu H,Chen Y,et al.Variations of the meteor echo heights at Beijing and Mohe,China.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2017,122:1117-1127
17 Gong Y,Li C,Ma Z,et al.Study of the quasi-5-day wave in the MLTregion by a meteor radar chain.J Geophys Res Atmosph,2018,123:9474-9487
18 Yi W,Reid I M,Xue X,et al.High-and middle-latitude neutral mesospheric density response to geomagnetic storms.Geophys Res Lett,2018,45:436-444
19 Ning B Q,Hu L H,Li G Z,et al.The first time observations of lowlatitude ionospheric irregularities by VHF radar in Hainan.Sci China Tech Sci,2012,55:1189-1197
20 Li G,Ning B,Hu L,et al.Observations on the field-aligned irregularities using Sanya VHF radar:2 low latitude ionospheric E-region quasi-periodic echoes in the East Asian sector.Chin J Geophys,2013,56:2141-2151
21 Li G Z,Ning B Q,Hu L H.Interferometry observations of lowlatitude E-region irregularity patches using the Sanya VHF radar.Sci China Tech Sci,2014,57:1552-1561
22 Li G Z,Ning B Q,Li A,et al.First results of optical meteor and meteor trail irregularity from simultaneous Sanya radar and video observations.Earth Planet Phys,2018,2:15-21
23 Li G,Ning B,Chu Y H,et al.Structural evolution of long-duration meteor trail irregularities driven by neutral wind.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2014,119:10,348-10,357
24 Zhou C,Liu Y,Tang Q,et al.Investigation on the occurrence of midlatitude E-region irregularity by Wuhan VHF radar and its relationship with sporadic E layer.IEEE Trans Geosci Remote Sens,2018,56:7207-7216
25 Tsunoda R T,Fukao S,Yamamoto M.On the origin of quasi-periodic radar backscatter from midlatitude sporadic E.Radio Sci,1994,29:349-365
26 Larsen M F.A shear instability seeding mechanism for quasiperiodic radar echoes.J Geophys Res,2000,105:24931-24940
27 Ogawa T,Takahashi O,Otsuka Y,et al.Simultaneous middle and upper atmosphere radar and ionospheric sounder observations of midlatitude E region irregularities and sporadic E layer.J Geophys Res,2002,107:1275
28 Patra A K,Sripathi S,Sivakumar V,et al.Statistical characteristics of VHF radar observations of low latitude E-region field-aligned irregularities over Gadanki.J Atmos Sol-Terrestrial Phys,2004,66:1615-1626
29 Xie H Y,Ning B Q,Zhao X K,et al.Case study of simultaneous observations of sporadic sodium layer,E-region field-aligned irregularities and sporadic E layer at low latitude of China.Adv Space Res,2017,59:1559-1567
30 Yu Y,Wan W,Ning B,et al.Tidal wind mapping from observations of a meteor radar chain in December 2011.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2013,118:2321-2332
31 Xue X H,Dou X K,Lei J,et al.Lower thermospheric-enhanced sodium layers observed at low latitude and possible formation:Case studies.J Geophys Res Space Phys,2013,118:2409-2418
32 Haldoupis C.Midlatitude sporadic E.A typical paradigm of atmosphere-ionosphere coupling.Space Sci Rev,2012,168:441-461
33 Haldoupis C,Schlegel K.Characteristics of midlatitude coherent backscatter from the ionospheric E region obtained with sporadic Escatter experiment.J Geophys Res,1996,101:13387-13397
34 Shalimov S,Haldoupis C,Schlegel K.Large polarization electric fields associated with midlatitude sporadic E.J Geophys Res,1998,103:11617-11625