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Measurement of Incoherent Scatter

Entry ID: gov.noaa.ngdc.G00145

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Summary

Abstract: ABSTRACT: For radio waves transmitted through the ionosphere with frequencies much larger (50 to 1300MHz) than the plasma frequency (up to 15MHz), very small-scale fluctuations of electron density will scatter a portion of the signal back toward the transmitter. These fluctuations are caused by the random thermal motions of the electrons. The height at which the scattering occurs can be determined ... by either a pulse technique or by the use of two intersecting cylindrical radar beams. The height resolutions of a backscattered pulse or beam can vary from 4 to 35 km at a height of 100 km to about 300 km at altitudes above 1000 km, depending on the equipment used and the geographical location of the station. From analysis of the backscattered signals, electron density profiles, electron and ion temperature profiles, and ion composition and ionospheric drift can be determined. The equipment used for the observations determines the vertical extent of the backscattered profiles and the resolution, as well as influencing the procedures used to convert the scattered return to measures of meaningful ionospheric parameters. Radar installations that can make these observations are complex and expensive to operate; consequently, these observations are scheduled on an "as needed" basis, and the equipment is shared for other uses. Although the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) has several data tapes, each one is an independent experiment with its own parameters and data format. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) now archives these data. Their collection includes the NGDC data and newer Incoherent Scatter data that they receive. NCAR has done significant development work on these data sets. They have created a common archive data format and converted all data to this new format. For additional details about this data set, contact one of the people at the address listed below. NCAR HAO, P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA. FAX: 303-497-1589. Barbara Emery: 303-497-1596, emery@ncar.ucar.edu. Roy Barnes: 303-497-1230; bozo@ncar.ucar.edu.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Observing station type: Solar-Terrestrial Observatory. Data collection type: Network.Quality control: The incoherent scatter data consist of the following data sets: Arecibo I9/I29, N12, N34(Raw), N35(Raw), and N35(reduced); Jicamarca: November 1966-April 1969; Millstone Hill: 1970 and 1971; Saint Santin: November 1965-November 1967, February 1971-May 1975, and January 1976-December 1977.

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE: Ground Condition

DATA SET CREATOR:
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NGDC > National Geophysical Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce (comp)

Purpose: PURPOSE: Radio Signal Research

Related URL

Link: GET DATA

Description: ftp characteristics of Ionospheric data

Geographic Coverage

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Spatial coordinates

N: 90.0

S: -90.0

E: 180.0

W: -180.0

Data Set Citation

Dataset Originator/Creator: Please See Summary

Dataset Title: Measurement of Incoherent Scatter

Dataset Release Date: 1975

Dataset Release Place: Boulder, CO

Dataset Publisher: National Geophysical Data Center

Version: First

Online Resource: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/ionohome.html

Temporal Coverage

Start Date: 2009-08-13

Location Keywords

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > ARCTIC

GEOGRAPHIC REGION > POLAR

CONTINENT > NORTH AMERICA > UNITED STATES OF AMERICA > ALASKA

Science Keywords

CRYOSPHERE > GLACIERS/ICE SHEETS > GLACIER TOPOGRAPHY/ICE SHEET TOPOGRAPHY

ISO Topic Category

GEOSCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

Platform

Aircraft

Instrument

LIDAR > Light Detection and Ranging

Project

EOSDIS > Earth Observing System Data Information System

ESIP > Earth Science Information Partners Program

OIB > Operation Ice Bridge

Ancillary Keywords

Airborne Laser Altimetry

Alaska

Data Set Progress

IN WORK

Originating Center

NASA/WFF/OSB

Data Center

NSIDC Distributed Active Archive Center

Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org/daac/index.html
Dataset ID: ILAKS1B

Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC USER SERVICES Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199 Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468 Email: nsidc at nsidc.org Contact Address: National Snow and Ice Data Center CIRES, 449 UCB University of Colorado City: Boulder Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80309-0449 Country: USA

National Snow and Ice Data Center

Data Center URL: http://nsidc.org
Dataset ID: ILAKS1B

Data Center Personnel
Name: NSIDC USER SERVICES Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199 Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468 Email: nsidc at nsidc.org Contact Address: National Snow and Ice Data Center CIRES, 449 UCB University of Colorado City: Boulder Province or State: CO Postal Code: 80309-0449 Country: USA

Distribution

Distribution Media: FTP

Distribution Size: 19 GB

Distribution Format: binary

Personnel

CHRIS LARSEN

Role: INVESTIGATOR

Email: Chris.Larsen at gi.alaska.edu

Contact Address:

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Geophysical Institute

City: Fairbanks

Province or State: AK

Postal Code: 99775

Country: USA

NSIDC USER SERVICES

Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT

Phone: +1 (303) 492-6199

Fax: +1 (303) 492-2468

Email: nsidc at nsidc.org

Contact Address:

National Snow and Ice Data Center

CIRES, 449 UCB

University of Colorado

City: Boulder

Province or State: CO

Postal Code: 80309-0449

Country: USA

Publications/References

Refer to the NASA Earth Science Project Office Operation IceBridge Home Page for in-depth information on the science mission and goal of the IceBridge project: http://www.espo.nasa.gov/oib/

Extended Metadata Properties

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Creation and Review Dates

DIF Creation Date: 2010-10-05

Last DIF Revision Date: 2012-05-13

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