Observations of the Leonid meteoroid stream by a multistation FS radio system

Results of joint campaigns of the Leonid meteoroid stream performed through out the 1995-1999 years by the BLM (Bologna-Lecce-Modra) forward scatter (F S) radar, are shown and compared with visual observations. In 1998 and 1999 at both the stations of Lecce and Modra, the total reflection time is show n to give a better indication of the Leonid activity. For the two years the trends of the reflection time and of the overdense echoes (T > 8 sec durat ion) exhibit multiple peaks just at the maximum of the shower activity. In 1999, strong evidence of a short and extremely intense activity at the noda l longitude of the parent comet (November 18, 02h UT), is deduced from the radio data. The Leonid display is shown to follow a Gaussian activity profi le and the particle density/stream width relationship is found to match obs ervations of IRAS dust trails of comparable short-period comets. The mass d istribution exponent shows a representation of an extended component of lar ger particles (brighter Leonids) in 1996 and especially in 1998. Average ma ss and population indices of radio and visual data show a similar trend in the 1995-1999 period.