Determination of meteor-head echo trajectories using the interferometric capabilities of MAARSY

Abstract

Abstract. During the flight of a meteoroid through the neutral atmosphere, the high kinetic energy is sufficient to ionize the meteoric constituents. Radar echoes coming from plasma irregularities surrounding the meteoroids are called meteor-head echoes, and can be detected by HPLA radar systems. Measurements of these echoes were conducted with MAARSY (Middle Atmosphere Alomar Radar System) in December 2010. The interferometric capabilities of the radar system permit the determination of the meteor trajectories within the radar beam with high accuracy. The received data are used to gain information about entry velocities, source radiants, observation heights and other meteoroid parameters. Our preliminary results indicate that the majority of meteors have masses between 10 −10 and 10 −3 kg and the mean masses of the sporadic meteors and Gemenids meteors are ∼ 10 −8 kg.

Nonspecular meteor trails from non‐field‐aligned irregularities: Can they be explained by presence of charged meteor dust?

“…Though this paper focuses primarily on the nonspecular echoes, we first describe some of the features of the other echoes, since they provide us with additional information. Using the interferometry information on the head echo portion of the data [e.g., Chau and Woodman , , Schult et al , ], we found that the meteor entered Earth at a high geocentric speed of ∼69.5 km/s and came from ∼2 h 53 min right ascension, 29.47° declination, in modified ecliptic coordinates from the North Apex sporadic meteor source [ Chau et al , ]. Although the speed was large, the radial velocity was comparably slow due to the very low elevation angle (∼28.6°), therefore, it was observed over a long horizontal distance (∼50 km).…”

Formation of plasma around a small meteoroid: 1. Kinetic theory

“…Interpreting these measurements requires a quantitative understanding of the structure of the neutral gas and plasma surrounding a meteoroid. This paper develops a first‐principle kinetic model aimed at interpreting head‐echo signals [ Bronshten , ; Ceplecha et al , ; Close et al , ; Pellinen‐Wannberg , ; Close et al , ; Dyrud and Janches , ; Campbell‐Brown and Close , ; Schult et al , ].…”

VHF antenna pattern characterization by the observation of meteor head echoes

“…The MAARSY radar is one of the few radar systems that are capable of observing meteor head echoes as has been successfully demonstrated during the Geminids meteor shower in 2010 (Schult et al, 2013). Contrary to other radars that observed meteor head echoes on a campaign basis, MAARSY recently completed its second year of nearly continuous observations.…”

“…Meteor head observations are described for various radar systems of sufficient power-aperture products, e.g. in Pellinen-Wannberg and Wannberg (1994), Janches et al (2000), Chau and Woodman (2004), Pellinen-Wannberg (2005), Chau et al (2009), Kero et al (2011) and Schult et al (2013).…”