Interferometry observations of low-latitude E-region irregularity patches using the Sanya VHF radar  

作　　者：LI GuoZhu NING BaiQi HU LianHuan 

机构地区：[1]Key Laboratory of Ionospheric Environment,Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences [2]Beijing National Observatory of Space Environment,Institute of Geology and Geophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences

出　　处：《Science China(Technological Sciences)》2014年第8期1552-1561,共10页中国科学（技术科学英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41374163,41374164,41174136,41204113,41127003,and 41321003);Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.KZCX2-YW-Y10,KZZD-EW-01-3);the National Important Basic Research Project of China(Grant No.2011CB811405)

摘　　要：Interferometry plays an important role in revealing fine-scale structures of ionospheric irregularity.By placing an additional receiving array of four 5-element Yagi antennas in the north of the main East-West array of the Sanya VHF radar,multiple interferometry baselines with components parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic meridian are formed.These baselines allow us to study the three-dimensional(3D)behavior of low-latitude ionospheric field-aligned irregularity(FAI)over Sanya.Using multiple non-collinear receiving baselines,an experiment for which the Sanya VHF radar operated as an interferometer was performed on 10 July 2013.Ionospheric E-region FAI echoes with periods of several minutes were observed during 0745-0915 UT;mean Doppler velocity was around -30 m/s with spectral widths of about 50 m/s.The interferometry results show fine-scale structures of E-region FAI with a zonal scale size of 15 km or less.In addition,we found that the periodic variations of echo intensity shown in radar range-time-intensity(RTI)maps were produced by spatially separated E-region irregularity patches.The patches drifted westward with a velocity of about 40-60 m/s and could be associated with propagating gravity waves.These results provide a clearer picture of the characteristics of FAI and thus help to investigate the generation and dynamics of low-latitude ionospheric irregularities in the Chinese sector.

关 键 词：ionospheric E-region field-aligned irregularity patch radar interferometry 

分 类 号：P412.25[天文地球—大气科学及气象学]