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The possibility of using all-sky meteor radar to observe ionospheric E-region field-aligned irregularities

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Abstract

All-sky meteor radars are primarily used for meteor observations. This paper reports the first observations of ionospheric E-region 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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    HaiYong Xie, GuoZhu Li, BaiQi Ning, LianHuan Hu, You Yu & SiPeng Yang

  2. Beijing National Observatory of Space Environment, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    HaiYong Xie, GuoZhu Li, BaiQi Ning, LianHuan Hu, BaoYuan Wu & SiPeng Yang

  3. College of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100029, China

    GuoZhu Li & You Yu

  4. ATmospheric RADar (ATRAD) Pty Ltd, Thebarton, 5031, Australia

    Iain Reid

  5. School of Physical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia

    Iain Reid

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  1. HaiYong Xie
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  2. GuoZhu Li
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  4. Iain Reid
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  5. LianHuan Hu
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  7. You Yu
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  8. SiPeng Yang
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Correspondence to GuoZhu Li.

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Xie, H., Li, G., Ning, B. et al. The possibility of using all-sky meteor radar to observe ionospheric E-region field-aligned irregularities. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 62, 1431–1437 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9418-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-018-9418-5

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