International Experiment on the Research of Ionosphere Heating Phenomena Initiated By Powerful HF radio-waves provided by EISCAT (Tromsø, Norway, March 2011)

From 02nd to 09th of March 2011, PGI researchers M. Shvets and E. Dubrovskiy participated in the international experiment on the investigation of ionosphere heating phenomena initiated by powerful HF radio-waves emitted by EISCAT (69.6º N, 19.2º E, L=6.2, I=78º), in Tromsø, Norway (http://www.eiscat.se/).

The goal of the experiment was a complex research and analysis of ionosphere heating effect on the distribution of signals from satellite radio navigation system GLONASS at high latitudes. GPS/GLONASS signals were registered by two GNSS (GPS/GLONASS) receivers: Maxor Javad located at EISCAT and Topcon located in Murmansk, on the roof of PGI building. Estimation of short-wave radiation influence on the ionosphere and the quality of the received signals was made by analyzing the changes in the total electron concentration (TEC). As measured parameters L1 and L2, the phases of the carrying waves at coherent frequencies of the GLONASS satellites were used.

The EISCAT heating facility was used in the experiment, which operated at frequencies from 3,95 MHz to 6,2 MHz in a quasi-continuous mode (10 min heating, 5 min off) with O/X mode polarization. The directional diagram of the antennas was inclined by 12° to the south from the vertical. Heating frequencies were selected depending on the ionosphere conditions, with providing that they should be close to the critical frequency of the F-layer. For several days the heating facility operated with modulation at 1,178 kHz, 230 Hz and 3 Hz. For analysis of ionospheric parameters, both non-coherent UHF radar, operating at frequency 931 MHz, and DYNASONDE system were employed.

At present, more detailed analysis and data processing are being conducted.