Incoherent scatter

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Incoherent scatter refers to a ground-based technique for studying the earth's ionosphere. A radar beam scattering off electrons in the ionospheric plasma creates an incoherent scatter echo. The ionospheric electrons are controlled by the much slower and massive positive ions - electron density fluctuations relate to ion temperature, mass distribution, and motion. The incoherent scatter signal allows measurement of electron density, ion temperature and electron temperatures, ion composition and plasma velocity.

[edit] See also

• EISCAT
• Millstone Hill Observatory
• Arecibo Observatory

[edit] External links

• EISCAT Homepage- about EISCAT, European Incoherent Scattter
• Millstone Hill Observatory Homepage - about Millstone Hill Observatory
• Incoherent scatter tutorial - from the MIT Haystack Observatory website
• Incoherent scatter locations - map of world operational incoherent scatter radars
• AMISR - Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar