Radar measurements of neutralwinds and temperatures in the equatorial E region

Authors

B. B. Balsley
B. G. Fejer, Utah State UniversityFollow
D. T. Farley
R. F. Woodman

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Geophysical Research

Volume

81

Publisher

American Geophysical Union

Publication Date

1976

First Page

1457

Comments

The phase velocity of type 1 irregularities in the equatorial electrojet, which can be easily measured by radar, depends upon both the ion acoustic velocity (and hence the temperature) in the medium and the neutral wind velocity. By measuring the phase velocity at several zenith angles both of these quantities in principle can be determined. The technique and its limitations are described, and a few preliminary results obtained at 50 MHz at the Jicamarca Radar Observatory in Peru are presented. These results show E region east-west wind velocities as large as 100 m/s, temperature variations of greater than 100/sup 0/K, and substantial longitudinal variations, at times, in both wind velocity and temperature.

Recommended Citation

Balsley, B. B., B. G. Fejer, D. T. Farley, and R. F. Woodman, Radar measurements of neutral winds and temperatures in the equatorial E region, J. Geophys. Res., 81, 1457, 1976.