Main characteristics of polar mesosphere summer echoes observed with the MST radar ESRAD, Kiruna, Sweden during 1997- 2011
Since 1997 measurements of polar mesosphere summer echoes (PMSE) have been carried out with the 52 MHz ESRAD MST radar located at Esrange. Importantly, these measurements have been made using the same experimental settings that makes our PMSE time-series unique. ESRAD has been calibrated against radiosondes that allow us to calculate PMSE cross-sections corrected for changes in transmitter output and antenna feed losses from year to year. We analysed the short- and long-term variations as well as trends in the PMSE occurrence and volume reflectivity together with the factors affecting them. We also estimated the in-beam PMSE aspect sensitivities using the FCA technique. Results of these systematic studies of PMSE for 1997-2009 were included in Maria Smirnova’s thesis, I analysed additionally 2010 and 2011.
Created 2012-08-21 13:36:00 by Uwe Raffalski Last changed 2012-10-03 14:45:30 by Uwe Raffalski
