COHERENT RADAR (SABRE) STUDIES OF DYNAMICAL PROCESSES IN THE AURORAL E-REGION

In the coherent radar technique, backscatter is obtained from plasma i rregularities even though the radar frequency can greatly exceed the i onospheric plasma frequency maximum. From the velocity spectrum of the received signals an estimate of the flow velocity can be obtained and hence the electric field determined. Information regarding the irregu larity scattering cross section is obtained from the amplitude of the backscatter return. Current radar studies of a range of geophysical ph enomena are presented. In addition, attention is drawn to the problems of interpreting the radar observations in terms of the underlying geo physical processes.