ALTAIR Observations of Ionospheric Irregularities and Background Densities.
Abstract
A series of measurements of the properties of equatorial ionospheric irregularities were made at Kwajalein, M.I. in August 1977 and July-August 1978. These measurements, involved coordinated ground based and in-situ sensors. The ARPA Long-range Tracking and Instrumentation Radar (ALTAIR), obtained backscatter and transmission data during five nights in August 1977 and eight nights in July-August 1978. This report describes the ALTAIR data from the night of 11 August 1978 which yield direct quantitative measurements of 1 m and 3/8 m irregularities and of plasma depleted regions. These plasma depleted regions, previously predicted on the basis of theoretical speculation and in-situ data, appear to be associated with the decay phase and not the generative phase of the field aligned irregularities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 19, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA078599
Entities
People
- David M. Towle
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology