Arecibo Observatory current capability for Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Ionosphere Studies
Abstract
We will present the extraordinary capabilities of the Arecibo Observatory as an upper atmosphere facility, which can be considered in two parts: i) The capabilities of the 430 MHz Incoherent Scatter Radar itself, and; ii) The combined capabilities of the radar with all other instruments used for space and atmospheric probing. The capabilities of the ISR is primarily associated with the high sensitivity of the instrument resulting from the very large 305-meter dish reflecting antenna. Another very important factor is the recent increase in sampling speed, information storage capability, and computational power that brings the use of the instrument closer to its full inherent capabilities. Adding to that, the improvements over the years related to enhancing the information content of the scattered signal through the use of radar coding of the transmitted signal, and second, the ability to extract this information from the received signal due to both the huge increase in computing power and the development of useful computing algorithms. The combined capabilities result from the package of instruments supported at the facility, including some user-supplied instruments. The new HF facility is the most ambitious observatory facility. The combination of the ISR, HF and the array of the other instruments enables investigations that are unique in the field of Space and atmospheric sciences. Both, the active (Rayleigh, temperature, metal density and metal Ion lidars) and passive (imagers, photometers and Fabry-Perots) optical instruments, as well as the radio receivers (GPSs, riometers, HF receiver, VLF receiver, etc) complete the suite of instruments at the Arecibo Observatory. For this reason, the Arecibo Observatory is with the combination of all instruments one of the most capable facility for space and atmospheric sciences.
- Publication:
-
43rd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 28 January - 4 February
- Pub Date:
- January 2021
- Bibcode:
- 2021cosp...43E.618M