Comparison of Simultaneous Wind Measurements Using Co-located
VHF Meteor Radar and MF Spaced Antenna Radar Systems
M. A. Cervera and I. M. Reid
Abstract
Comparisons of wind velocities at heights from 80 to 98 km have been
made using two different techniques. The first method involves the
determination of winds using meteor drifts (see e.g. Avery et al. [1990],
Stubbs [1972]). This was done by observing meteors using the University
of Adelaide VHF radar situated approximately 40 $km$ North of Adelaide at
Buckland Park. The second method used to determine winds was the spaced
antenna technique (see e.g. Briggs [1984]) using an MF radar at the same
site. The two radar systems are independent, the VHF radar operating at
54.1 MHz and the MF radar at 1.98 MHz. The spatial separation of the two
radars is approximately 600 m. Simultaneous data obtained from September
10th - 20th 1993 are presented here. The agreement between the two
techniques is good below 90 km, while above 90 km we find that the spaced
antenna technique yields smaller wind speeds than the meteor drift
technique. Several possible reasons for these discrepancies are discussed.
Status
This paper has been accepted for publication in Radio Science.
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