HR: 0800h
AN: SA51B-0257    [Abstracts]
TI: Real-time Determination of F-region Critical Frequencies Using SuperDARN
AU: * Hughes, J M
EM: hughesj@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AU: Bristow, W A
EM: bill.bristow@gi.alaska.edu
AF: Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775 United States
AB: In addition to detecting backscatter from ionospheric field-aligned irregularities, SuperDARN radars are sensitive to ground scatter returns. The profiles of these returns vary in a systematic manner with frequency and can be used to determine HF propagation characteristics and ionospheric critical frequencies. The large spatial coverage and good time resolution provided by the SuperDARN network make it possible to produce maps of high-latitude critical frequencies approximately every 15 minutes. Recent upgrades to the SuperDARN operating software provide the capability to receive the ground scatter profiles and angle of arrival information in real-time via the internet and we use these data to construct near real-time maps of F-region critical frequencies. In this paper, the technique will be described and representative data will be discussed.
DE: 6964 Radio wave propagation
DE: 6994 Instruments and techniques
SC: SPA-Aeronomy [SA]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting