Ionospheric heater

An ionospheric heater is an array of antennas which are used for heating the ionosphere, and which can create artificial aurora.

Current facilities

• The European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association (EISCAT) operates an ionospheric heating facility, capable of transmitting over 1 GW [1] [2] effective radiated power (ERP), near Tromsø in Norway.

• Russia has the Sura ionospheric heating facility, in Vasilsursk near Nizhniy Novgorod, capable of transmitting 190 MW ERP.

• The United States has three ionospheric heating facilities:
  • HAARP - 4 GW ERP (north of Gakona, Alaska)
  • HIPAS Observatory - 70 MW ERP (northeast of Fairbanks, Alaska)
  • Arecibo Observatory (in Puerto Rico)

Ionosphere modification

According to researchers noted in USAF research paper "Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025", ionosphere heating was among techniques investigated by the former Soviet Union to either enhance friendly or disrupt enemy communications by modifying the natural ionosphere.