EXTENSION OF MF RADAR TIDAL MEASUREMENTS TO E-REGION HEIGHTS (95-125 KM) - SASKATOON (52-DEGREES-N, 107-DEGREES-W), CANADA

Efforts have been made to extend the MF radar tidal profiles to E-regi on heights. The totally reflected MF radar echoes from E-region height s during daytime are known to be group-retarded and the corresponding wind and tidal data will have associated height discrepancies. The est imation of the E-region real heights (Namboothiri et al., 1993), and t he elimination of the data for which the group retardation is signific ant, are selected as the basic criteria to extend the tidal profiles t o 100-125 km. The analysis of the quiet (A(p) < 19) days of the winter and summer seasons of 1988/89 shows that the tidal propagation contin ues to higher altitudes with some changes in their pattern, e.g. longe r wavelengths, compared to that in the lower altitudes. Comparison wit h the model profiles shows some resemblance and some disagreements. Th e reliability of the MF radar tidal measurements of E-region heights a nd the propagation of tides in this region have been discussed in the light of existing theories and other experimental observations. It is concluded that, based on the initial studies with UHF and MF systems a nd within the limits of the available theories, the information on tid es presented here for the 100-125 km region using the MF radar observa tions is useful. Suggestions for future work in this direction are als o given.