Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia

A VHF backscatter radar with operating frequency 30.8 MHz has been operated at Kototabang (0.20°S, 100.32°E; dip latitude 10.36°S), Indonesia, since February 2006. We analyzed E-region field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) observed by this radar through a year of 2007 and found that the E-region FAI o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Y. Otsuka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Geophysics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/695793
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849403610807402496
author Y. Otsuka
author_facet Y. Otsuka
author_sort Y. Otsuka
collection DOAJ
description A VHF backscatter radar with operating frequency 30.8 MHz has been operated at Kototabang (0.20°S, 100.32°E; dip latitude 10.36°S), Indonesia, since February 2006. We analyzed E-region field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) observed by this radar through a year of 2007 and found that the E-region FAI observed at Kototabang can be classified into two groups. One is “descending FAI”. Altitude of the FAI echo region descends with time from 102 km to 88 km altitude during 0700–1000 and 1900–0000 LT in June solstice season. The other is “low-altitude FAI”, which is observed in an altitude range from 88 to 94 km mainly during nighttime. The observed Doppler velocity show distinct local time and altitude dependence. The seasonally averaged zonal velocity above (below) approximately 94 km altitude is westward (eastward) during daytime and eastward (westward) during nighttime. Meridional/vertical velocity perpendicular to the geomagnetic fields is upward during daytime and downward during nighttime. The direction of the FAI velocity above approximately 94 km altitude is consistent with that of the background E × B plasma drifts reported previously.
format Article
id doaj-art-84977abcf997460db1f5481bd5f30a87
institution Kabale University
issn 1687-885X
1687-8868
language English
publishDate 2012-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series International Journal of Geophysics
spelling doaj-art-84977abcf997460db1f5481bd5f30a872025-08-20T03:37:12ZengWileyInternational Journal of Geophysics1687-885X1687-88682012-01-01201210.1155/2012/695793695793Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, IndonesiaY. Otsuka0Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Nagoya, JapanA VHF backscatter radar with operating frequency 30.8 MHz has been operated at Kototabang (0.20°S, 100.32°E; dip latitude 10.36°S), Indonesia, since February 2006. We analyzed E-region field-aligned irregularities (FAIs) observed by this radar through a year of 2007 and found that the E-region FAI observed at Kototabang can be classified into two groups. One is “descending FAI”. Altitude of the FAI echo region descends with time from 102 km to 88 km altitude during 0700–1000 and 1900–0000 LT in June solstice season. The other is “low-altitude FAI”, which is observed in an altitude range from 88 to 94 km mainly during nighttime. The observed Doppler velocity show distinct local time and altitude dependence. The seasonally averaged zonal velocity above (below) approximately 94 km altitude is westward (eastward) during daytime and eastward (westward) during nighttime. Meridional/vertical velocity perpendicular to the geomagnetic fields is upward during daytime and downward during nighttime. The direction of the FAI velocity above approximately 94 km altitude is consistent with that of the background E × B plasma drifts reported previously.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/695793
spellingShingle Y. Otsuka
Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
International Journal of Geophysics
title Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
title_full Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
title_fullStr Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
title_short Seasonal and Local Time Variations of E-Region Field-Aligned Irregularities Observed with 30.8-MHz Radar at Kototabang, Indonesia
title_sort seasonal and local time variations of e region field aligned irregularities observed with 30 8 mhz radar at kototabang indonesia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/695793
work_keys_str_mv AT yotsuka seasonalandlocaltimevariationsoferegionfieldalignedirregularitiesobservedwith308mhzradaratkototabangindonesia