Observation of Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes using the northernmost MST radar at Eureka (80°N). (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swarnalingam, N.; Hocking, W.; Janches, D.; Drummond, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of atmospheric and solar-terrestrial physics. Volume 162(2017)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Polar summer mesosphere -- Radar scattering -- Ice particle -- Turbulence; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Géophysique -- Périodiques; Météorologie physique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 551.51
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jastp.2017.03.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6826

Abstract

Abstract: We investigate long-term Polar Mesosphere Summer Echoes (PMSEs) observations conducted by the northernmost geographically located MST radar at Eureka (80°N, 86°W). While PMSEs are a well recognized summer phenomenon in the polar regions, previous calibrated studies at Resolute Bay and Eureka using 51.5 MHz and 33 MHz radars respectively, showed that PMSE backscatter signal strengths are relatively weak in the polar cap sites, compared to the auroral zone sites (Swarnalingam et al., 2009b; Singer et al., 2010 ). Complications arise with PMSEs in which the echo strength is controlled by the electrons, which are, in turn, influenced by heavily charged ice particles as well as the variability in the D-region plasma. In recent years, PMSE experiments were conducted inside the polar cap utilizing a 51 MHz radar located at Eureka. In this paper, we investigate calibrated observations, conducted during 2009–2015. Seasonal and diurnal variations of the backscatter signal strengths are discussed and compared to previously published results from the ALOMAR radar, which is a radar of similar design located in the auroral zone at Andenes, Norway (69°N, 16°E). At Eureka, while PMSEs are present with a daily occurrence rate which is comparable to the rate observed at the auroral zone site for at least two seasons, they show a great level of inter-annual variability. The occurrence rate for the strong echoes tends to be low. Furthermore, comparison of the absolute backscatter signal strengths at these two sites clearly indicates that the PMSE backscatter signal strength at Eureka is weak. Although this difference could be caused by several factors, we investigate the intensity of the neutral air turbulence at Eureka from the measurements of the Doppler spectrum of the PMSE backscatter signals. We found that the level of the turbulence intensity at Eureka is weak relative to previously reported results from three high latitude sites. Highlights: Long-term PMSE backscatter signal strength at a polar cap radar site (Eureka) is determined. At Eureka, while PMSEs are present with a daily occurrence rate comparable to the rate observed by similar design radar in the auroral zone, the occurrence rate for strong echoes tends to be low. Investigation of the neutral air turbulence at PMSE heights shows that the level of turbulence intensity at Eureka is weak relative to previously reported results from three high latitude sites.