Ionospheric Doppler measurements by means of HF-radar techniques

Abstract

Studies of the dynamics of the ionosphere and its related phenomena are mainly based on Doppler Drift measurements. The time variation (ionisation/recombination) of plasma density, thermospheric wind and others can be observed by means of HF-radars. The technique of Doppler Drift measurements is a quite complex technique that is now affordable by means of an advanced ionospheric sounder. The combination of vertical sounding and interferometric Doppler detection discloses the Doppler sources. The echo signal contains the Doppler shift in frequency imposed on the wave carrier by each point source where the signal is reflected. Other phenomena like environmental noise and the intrinsic error of the measurements that, together with the change in time of the refractive index, affect the measurements in various ways impeding to better quantify the results.