Investigation of horizontal structures at mesospheric altitudes using coherent radar imaging

Abstract

Abstract. The Middle Atmosphere Alomar Radar System (MAARSY) in Northern Norway (69.30°N, 16.04°E) was used to perform interferometric observations of Polar Mesosperic Summer Echoes (PMSE) in June 2012. Coherent Radar Imaging (CRI) using Capon's method was applied allowing a high spatial resolution. The algorithm was validated by simulation and trajectories of meteor head echoes. Both data sets show a good correspondence with the algorithm. Using this algorithm, the aspect sensitivity of PMSE was analysed in a case study, making use of the capability of CRI to resolve the pattern within the beam volume. No correction of the beam pattern was made yet. It was found in this case study, that no large variations in the scattering width and the scattering center occured apart from a very short period of time at the upper edge of the PMSE.

Geometric considerations of polar mesospheric summer echoes in tilted beams using coherent radar imaging

“…Together with flexible radar systems with interferometric capabilities, in-beam estimates have been done with different radars (Yu et al, 2001;Chilson et al, 2002;Chen et al, 2004;Sommer et al, 2013) to investigate PMSE. Coherent Radar Imaging (CRI) of PMSE has been usually applied with a vertical radar beam and method called Capon (e.g., Palmer et al, 1998).…”