Abstract:
The very high frequency coherent scatter radar is a vital ground-based instrument for detecting ionospheric field-aligned irregularities, deriving parameters of these ionospheric irregularities through the Bragg scattering mechanism. The China Research Institute of Radiowave Propagation has deployed two such radar systems in Qujing (103.7°E, 25.6°N) and Lincang (99.8°E, 23.5°N), Yunnan, China. Operating in an ionospheric Doppler beam steering mode, they enable continuous monitoring of the spatiotemporal characteristics of ionospheric irregularities over the mid- and low-latitude regions of China. Through signal acquisition, coherent integration, hybrid Doppler interferometry, and power spectrum analysis, the radars retrieve four types of parameters: echo power, signal-to-noise ratio, spectral width, and Doppler velocity. The dataset from these very high frequency coherent scatter radars provides high-quality data support for research on the spatiotemporal evolution of low-latitude ionospheric irregularities, ionosphere–neutral atmosphere coupling processes, and near-space environmental support.