Seasonal and diurnal variations of PolarDARN F region echo occurrence in the polar cap and their causes

M. Ghezelbash, A. V. Koustov*, D. R. Themens, P. T. Jayachandran

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

F region echo occurrence rates for the Polar Dual Auroral Radar Network (PolarDARN) HF radars at Inuvik (INV), Rankin Inlet (RKN), and Clyde River (CLY) are compared for observations in 2013. The CLY radar shows somewhat smaller echo occurrence rates consistent with its more poleward geographic and geomagnetic location. For all three radars, the winter occurrence rates are roughly twice that of the corresponding summer rates. For observations in the midnight sector, strong equinoctial maxima are evident. In terms of season and local time, echo occurrence patterns are found to be roughly the same for all radars: seasonally, clear maxima are found near noon during both winter and summer, while, diurnally, enhancements are found during equinoctial dusk. A comparison of data from roughly the same scattering area shows that having strong electron density in the scattering volume is not sufficient for getting an HF echo: propagation conditions along the propagation path are also important. Diurnal variations in the F region electron density and electric field (both measured by Canadian Advanced Digital Ionosonde) are compared to those of RKN echo occurrence rates for observations over Resolute Bay (RB) located at a geomagnetic latitude of 83°N. These results show a reasonable correlation between occurrence and electron density for both winter and summer periods and correlation between occurrence and electric field during summer periods. 

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10,426-10,439
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Volume119
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Nov 2014

Keywords

  • CADI ionosonde
  • echo occurrence
  • F region HF echoes
  • PolarDARN radar

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Forestry
  • Oceanography
  • Aquatic Science
  • Ecology
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Soil Science
  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Atmospheric Science
  • Earth and Planetary Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science
  • Palaeontology

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