Speaker
Description
Frequent occurrence of ground-scatter (GS) is a common feature of SuperDARN observations. This study extends previously published work on GS by focusing on data collected by the polar cap radars at Inuvik and Clyde River. One of the objectives is to identify data trends affected by electron density variations in the ionosphere. For the F region GS, both radars show strong solar cycle effect with variations of GS occurrence rate by a factor of 2 consistent with changes of the peak electron density. Seasonally, GS is more frequent in summer and at nighttime. Nighttime GS occurrence rates show clear correlation with increases in the electron density. Such correlation is less obvious during daytime. Diurnally, GS occurrence rates at near noon hours have clear maxima in winter but minima in summer. Partially, the summer reduction effect can be related to the blocking effect of the E region prohibiting HF radio wave propagation into the F region as evidenced by the enhanced occurrence of GS received at shorter ranges, via E region. GS received via E region is more frequent during nighttime, and no solar cycle effect is evident.
| Keyword-1 | SuperDARN |
|---|---|
| Keyword-2 | ground scatter echoes |
