Upper Atmosphere/Ionosphere Studies with the MU Radar

雷达技术为研究高层大气提供了重要手段。随着大气雷达的大小、功率和复杂性的增长，我们对大气详细行为的理解也在增长。全球雷达覆盖导致在全球范围内更好地了解高层大气。最近，日本开始运行一种先进的雷达，并与国际科学界合作开发了一些项目。该计划寻求继续首席调查员和日本科学家之间的合作，使用京都大学无线电大气中心操作的MU(中高层大气)雷达进行高层大气研究。这项研究将通过协调使用MU雷达和一系列大致相同经度的电离层探测仪，探索当地电离层温度、中性温度和密度行为，以及纬度变化。MU雷达的研究将由首席调查员在夏季进行，学年期间的工作将集中于数据分析和将结果与世界各地其他高层大气仪器(光学和雷达)的结果相结合。

Radar techniques provide important means for investigating the upper atmosphere. As the size, power, and sophistication of atmospheric radars has grown, so has our understanding of detailed atmospheric behavior. Global radar coverage has led to better understanding of the upper atmosphere on a global scale. Relatively recently the Japanese have begun operation of an advanced radar, and have developed some projects in collaboration with the international scientific community. This program seeks to continue the collaboration between the principle investigator and Japanese scientists to pursue upper atmosphere research using the MU (Middle and Upper atmosphere) radar operated by the Radio Atmospheric Center of Kyoto University. The research will explore local ionospheric temperature and neutral temperature and density behavior, and latitudinal variations through coordinated use of the MU radar and a string of ionosondes at approximately the same longitude. Research at the MU radar will be conducted by the principle investigator during summers, and work during the academic year will concentrate on data analysis and integration of results with results of other upper-atmosphere instruments (optical and radar) from around the world.