The performance of high frequency skywave radio circuits is degraded by electron density irregularities near the ionospheric reflection point. Doppler sounders are used to probe these ionospheric disturbances while simultaneously monitoring the variations in the magnetic field with ground based magnetometers. An array of Doppler sounders was operated during 1994 on a campaign basis. The location of
these receiving sites is shown below. For further information on the equipment
refer to a publication on the
sounders or email
Prof. F.W. Menk.
More recently, the theoretical understanding of ULF wave propagation in the
ionosphere and the consequences for over-the-horizon radar data has been
studied. Preliminary results are presented in the Ph.D. thesis of Ian Dunlop.
Further expansion of the computer code and applications are being undertaken by
Prof C.L. Waters and Dr. M. Sciffer.
Location of field station sites | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Station | Abbreviation | GG | GG | L | Frequency 1 | Frequency 2 |
Bribie Island | -30.5 | 151.6 | 1.72 | 8.638MHz | 12.984MHz | |
Armidale | -32.3 | 150.5 | 1.82 | 5.00MHz | ||
Newcastle | -33.0 | 151.2 | 1.92 | 3.9465MHz | 7.893MHz | |
Clarencetown | -33.4 | 151.1 | 1.90 | 5.00MHz | ||
Orbost | -35.3 | 149.4 | 2.04 | 5.00MHz | 8.638MHz | |
Launceston | -37.5 | 148.1 | 2.23 | 12.984MHz |
Imaging riometers are ideal for studying ionospheric plasma dynamics associated with high latitude phenomena on both the day and night side of the magnetosphere. The SPWG goup in collaboration with the Institute for Physical Science and Technology at the University of Maryland (USA - Professor Ted Rosenberg) and the Australian Antarctic Division (Dr. Ray Morris) have deployed a high resolution 38.2 MHz imagimg riometer at the Australian Antarctic base at Davis (-74.6 deg latitude). The aim is to study space-time images of the cusp and auroral latitude ionosphere in conjunction with the digital magnetometer network. Further information is available from Professor Brian Fraser .
3. TIGER RADAR
The TIGER radar is a SuperDARN radar that is planned for installation in Tasmania in the near future. TIGER is a collaborative effort involving Latrobe University [Prof. P. Dyson], Monash Univerisity [Dr. J. Bennett], Australian Antarctic Division [Dr. R. Morris], Defence Science and Technology Organisation [Dr. B. Ward], Ionospheric Prediction Service [Dr. P. Wilkinson] and University of Newcastle [Prof C.L. Waters and Prof. B.J. Fraser]. Click here for more information.