Arecibo IS Radar




Contact Person: Mike Sulzer msulzer@naic.edu
Web Site: http://www.naic.edu/menuimag/atmosfer.htm

The incoherent scatter radar at the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) at Arecibo, Puerto Rico (18.3N, 66.75W), has made ionospheric measurements since 1963. The radar facilities are shared with radio astronomers.

The most recent analysis solves between 3 (Ne, Ti, Ti) and 5 parameters (Ne, Ti, Te, H+/Ne, He+/Ne) simultaneously. The line-of-sight velocity is found in a separate fit to the slope of the auto-correlation function (ACF). There are several corrections that are applied to the data. These include a chirp correction for the velocities, eliminating bad data records due to satellites or ground based radio communication (some outliers remain), and calibration of electron densities with ionosonde data in post processing.

In the lower altitudes, a molecular ion model is assumed. The model was determined by looking for consistency in the other parameters. The molecular ion mass is assumed to be 30 amu and the assumed molecular ion composition is: 

Alt(km)        145     182     219     256     > 293.
[M. ion]/[Ne]  1.      0.3     0.2     0.07    0.

There are 4 areas in the summary plots. There are image plots as a function of height and time of the electron density (Ne), electron temperature (Te), and ion temperature (Ti). If available, the electron density which is uncorrected for temperature effects (from the Barker code measurements instead of the ACFs) is plotted since the height resolution is better. The bin sizes are 45 min in time, and 40 km in height for ACF records, and 10 km in height for Barker data. For the period when there are scan averaged ACF records, then there are line plots of the ion drift in the perpendicular east, north and parallel directions at the altitude closest to 300 km. Where there are no scan averaged data, the line-of-sight velocity is plotted, which is roughly the vertical velocity since all azimuths are binned together. There are 2 days per page.

References are:

Sulzer, M. P., A phase modulation technique for a sevenfold statistical improvement in incoherent scatter data-taking, Radio Sci., 21, 737-744, 1986.
Erickson, P. and W. Swartz, Mid-latitude incoherent scatter observations of helium and hydrogen atoms, Geophys. Res. Lett., 21, 2745-2748, 1994.


Summary Plots for Arecibo IS Radar

E Region neutral wind plots for some LTCS campaigns are available in the LTCS area, along with descriptions of other LTCS Arecibo data.
  • Jul 14-Jul 15, 1966 All data for this period
  • Aug 09-Aug 10, 1966 All data for this period
  • Aug 19-Aug 20, 1966 All data for this period
  • Sep 02-Sep 03, 1966 All data for this period
  • Sep 16-Sep 17, 1966 All data for this period
  • Oct 01-Oct 02, 1966 All data for this period
  • Nov 30-Dec 01, 1966 All data for this period
  • Jan 17-Jan 18, 1967 All data for this period
  • Feb 03-Feb 04, 1967 All data for this period
  • Feb 17-Feb 18, 1967 All data for this period
  • Feb 21-Feb 22, 1967 All data for this period
  • Apr 05-Apr 06, 1967 All data for this period
  • Apr 25-Apr 26, 1967 All data for this period
  • May 17-May 18, 1967 All data for this period
  • Jun 16-Jun 17, 1967 All data for this period
  • Jun 18-Jun 19, 1967 All data for this period
  • Aug 10-Aug 11, 1967 All data for this period
  • Sep 07-Sep 08, 1967 All data for this period
  • Oct 12-Oct 13, 1967 All data for this period
  • Nov 10-Nov 11, 1967 All data for this period
  • Nov 22-Nov 23, 1967 All data for this period
  • Dec 06-Dec 07, 1967 All data for this period
  • Jan 23-Jan 24, 1968 All data for this period
  • Feb 27-Feb 28, 1968 All data for this period
  • Mar 17-Mar 18, 1968 All data for this period
  • Mar 26-Mar 27, 1968 All data for this period
  • Apr 12-Apr 13, 1968 All data for this period
  • May 28-May 29, 1968 All data for this period
  • Jun 12-Jun 13, 1968 All data for this period
  • Jun 25-Jun 26, 1968 All data for this period
  • Jun 27-Jun 28, 1968 All data for this period
  • Jul 03-Jul 04, 1968 All data for this period
  • Jul 09-Jul 10, 1968 All data for this period
  • Aug 06-Aug 07, 1968 All data for this period
  • Sep 24-Sep 25, 1968 All data for this period
  • Oct 10-Oct 11, 1968 All data for this period
  • Oct 12-Oct 13, 1968 All data for this period
  • Nov 05-Nov 06, 1968 All data for this period
  • Nov 07-Nov 08, 1968 All data for this period
  • Nov 19-Nov 20, 1968 All data for this period
  • Dec 13-Dec 14, 1968 All data for this period
  • Dec 17-Dec 18, 1968 All data for this period
  • Dec 23-Dec 24, 1968 All data for this period
  • Apr 09-Apr 10, 1969 All data for this period
  • Apr 16-Apr 17, 1969 All data for this period
  • Apr 30-May 01, 1969 All data for this period
  • May 13-May 14, 1969 All data for this period
  • May 27-May 28, 1969 All data for this period
  • Jun 26-Jun 27, 1969 All data for this period
  • Sep 10-Sep 11, 1969 All data for this period
  • Sep 23-Sep 24, 1969 All data for this period
  • Nov 13-Nov 14, 1969 All data for this period
  • Nov 15-Nov 16, 1969 All data for this period
  • Feb 04-Feb 05, 1970 All data for this period
  • Mar 14-Mar 15, 1970 All data for this period
  • Jun 02-Jun 03, 1970 All data for this period
  • Jun 18-Jun 19, 1970 All data for this period
  • Dec 20-Dec 21, 1971 All data for this period
  • Dec 29-Dec 30, 1971 All data for this period
  • Jan 04-Jan 05, 1972 All data for this period
  • Feb 02-Feb 03, 1972 All data for this period
  • Feb 17-Feb 18, 1972 All data for this period
  • Feb 29-Mar 01, 1972 All data for this period
  • Mar 29-Mar 30, 1972 All data for this period
  • Apr 06-Apr 07, 1972 All data for this period
  • May 16-May 17, 1972 All data for this period
  • Jul 09-Jul 10, 1972 All data for this period
  • Jul 11-Jul 12, 1972 All data for this period
  • Aug 09-Aug 10, 1972 All data for this period
  • Aug 17-Aug 18, 1972 All data for this period
  • Aug 31-Sep 01, 1972 All data for this period
  • Sep 06-Sep 07, 1972 All data for this period
  • Nov 03-Nov 04, 1972 All data for this period
  • Nov 23-Nov 24, 1972 All data for this period
  • Dec 11-Dec 12, 1972 All data for this period
  • Aug 10-Aug 11, 1974 All data for this period
  • Aug 12-Aug 13, 1974 All data for this period
  • Aug 13-Aug 14, 1974 All data for this period
  • Aug 15-Aug 16, 1974 All data for this period
  • Sep 17-Sep 18, 1974 All data for this period
  • Sep 19-Sep 20, 1974 All data for this period
  • Oct 15-Oct 16, 1974 All data for this period
  • Oct 31-Nov 01, 1974 All data for this period
  • Nov 03-Nov 04, 1974 All data for this period
  • Nov 07-Nov 08, 1974 All data for this period
  • Nov 09-Nov 10, 1974 All data for this period
  • Nov 12-Nov 13, 1974 All data for this period
  • Jan 05-Jan 06, 1975 All data for this period
  • Jan 15-Jan 16, 1975 All data for this period
  • Apr 15-Apr 16, 1975 All data for this period
  • May 18-May 19, 1975 All data for this period
  • May 22-May 23, 1975 All data for this period
  • Jun 10-Jun 11, 1975 All data for this period
  • Jul 15-Jul 16, 1975 All data for this period
  • Aug 13-Aug 14, 1975 All data for this period
  • Sep 12-Sep 13, 1975 All data for this period
  • Oct 14-Oct 15, 1975 All data for this period
  • Oct 16-Oct 17, 1975 All data for this period
  • Oct 19-Oct 20, 1975 All data for this period
  • Dec 13-Dec 14, 1975 All data for this period
  • Dec 15-Dec 16, 1975 All data for this period
  • Dec 27-Dec 28, 1975 All data for this period
  • Jan 20-Jan 21, 1976 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1976 All data for this period
  • Apr 13-Apr 14, 1976 All data for this period
  • Apr 25-Apr 26, 1976 All data for this period
  • Apr 26-Apr 27, 1976 All data for this period
  • May 12-May 13, 1976 All data for this period
  • Jul 13-Jul 14, 1976 All data for this period
  • Aug 10-Aug 11, 1976 All data for this period
  • Sep 21-Sep 22, 1976 All data for this period
  • Oct 19-Oct 20, 1976 All data for this period
  • Nov 16-Nov 17, 1976 All data for this period
  • Jan 20-Jan 21, 1977 All data for this period
  • Feb 14-Feb 15, 1977 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1977 All data for this period
  • Apr 19-Apr 20, 1977 All data for this period
  • May 17-May 18, 1977 All data for this period
  • Jan 08-Jan 09, 1981 All data for this period
  • Jan 14-Jan 15, 1981 All data for this period
  • Feb 04-Feb 05, 1981 All data for this period
  • Mar 03-Mar 04, 1981 All data for this period
  • Mar 30-Mar 31, 1981 All data for this period
  • Apr 01-Apr 02, 1981 All data for this period
  • May 13-May 14, 1981 All data for this period
  • Jun 10-Jun 11, 1981 All data for this period
  • Jul 14-Jul 15, 1981 All data for this period
  • Aug 11-Aug 12, 1981 All data for this period
  • Sep 29-Sep 30, 1981 All data for this period
  • Oct 27-Oct 28, 1981 All data for this period
  • Nov 17-Nov 18, 1981 All data for this period
  • Nov 27-Nov 28, 1981 All data for this period
  • Nov 29-Nov 30, 1981 All data for this period
  • Dec 15-Dec 16, 1981 All data for this period
  • Dec 24-Dec 25, 1981 All data for this period
  • Dec 26-Dec 27, 1981 All data for this period
  • Dec 28-Dec 29, 1981 All data for this period
  • Feb 17-Feb 18, 1982 All data for this period
  • Feb 23-Feb 24, 1982 All data for this period
  • Feb 25-Feb 26, 1982 All data for this period
  • Feb 27-Feb 28, 1982 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1982 All data for this period
  • Apr 19-Apr 20, 1982 All data for this period
  • Apr 21-Apr 22, 1982 All data for this period
  • Apr 24-Apr 25, 1982 All data for this period
  • May 18-May 19, 1982 All data for this period
  • Jun 16-Jun 17, 1982 All data for this period
  • Jul 14-Jul 15, 1982 All data for this period
  • Aug 16-Aug 17, 1982 All data for this period
  • Aug 18-Aug 19, 1982 All data for this period
  • Aug 20-Aug 21, 1982 All data for this period
  • Sep 14-Sep 15, 1982 All data for this period
  • Oct 19-Oct 20, 1982 All data for this period
  • Nov 16-Nov 17, 1982 All data for this period
  • Dec 14-Dec 15, 1982 All data for this period
  • Dec 16-Dec 17, 1982 All data for this period
  • Jan 11-Jan 12, 1983 All data for this period
  • Feb 15-Feb 16, 1983 All data for this period
  • Mar 14-Mar 15, 1983 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1983 All data for this period
  • Mar 18-Mar 19, 1983 All data for this period
  • Apr 12-Apr 13, 1983 All data for this period
  • May 17-May 18, 1983 All data for this period
  • Jun 14-Jun 15, 1983 All data for this period
  • Jun 16-Jun 17, 1983 All data for this period
  • Jun 18-Jun 19, 1983 All data for this period
  • Jul 12-Jul 13, 1983 All data for this period
  • Aug 16-Aug 17, 1983 All data for this period
  • Sep 13-Sep 14, 1983 All data for this period
  • Sep 15-Sep 16, 1983 All data for this period
  • Oct 04-Oct 05, 1983 All data for this period
  • Oct 06-Oct 07, 1983 All data for this period
  • Oct 08-Oct 09, 1983 All data for this period
  • Oct 10-Oct 11, 1983 All data for this period
  • Nov 01-Nov 02, 1983 All data for this period
  • Dec 13-Dec 14, 1983 All data for this period
  • Jan 16-Jan 17, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jan 18-Jan 19, 1984 All data for this period
  • Feb 07-Feb 08, 1984 All data for this period
  • Mar 06-Mar 07, 1984 All data for this period
  • May 08-May 09, 1984 All data for this period
  • May 29-May 30, 1984 All data for this period
  • May 31-Jun 01, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jun 25-Jun 26, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jun 27-Jun 28, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jul 23-Jul 24, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jul 25-Jul 26, 1984 All data for this period
  • Sep 17-Sep 18, 1984 All data for this period
  • Sep 19-Sep 20, 1984 All data for this period
  • Sep 21-Sep 22, 1984 All data for this period
  • Oct 16-Oct 17, 1984 All data for this period
  • Oct 23-Oct 24, 1984 All data for this period
  • Nov 13-Nov 14, 1984 All data for this period
  • Jan 15-Jan 16, 1985 All data for this period
  • Jan 17-Jan 18, 1985 All data for this period
  • Mar 19-Mar 20, 1985 All data for this period
  • Mar 21-Mar 22, 1985 All data for this period
  • Apr 23-Apr 24, 1985 All data for this period
  • May 21-May 22, 1985 All data for this period
  • Jun 25-Jun 26, 1985 All data for this period
  • Aug 13-Aug 14, 1985 All data for this period
  • Sep 10-Sep 11, 1985 All data for this period
  • Oct 15-Oct 16, 1985 All data for this period
  • Oct 17-Oct 18, 1985 All data for this period
  • Oct 19-Oct 20, 1985 All data for this period
  • Nov 12-Nov 13, 1985 All data for this period
  • Jan 14-Jan 15, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jan 16-Jan 17, 1986 All data for this period
  • Mar 05-Mar 06, 1986 All data for this period
  • Apr 01-Apr 02, 1986 All data for this period
  • Apr 03-Apr 04, 1986 All data for this period
  • May 06-May 07, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jun 04-Jun 05, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jul 08-Jul 09, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jul 10-Jul 11, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jul 12-Jul 13, 1986 All data for this period
  • Aug 27-Aug 28, 1986 All data for this period
  • Sep 23-Sep 24, 1986 All data for this period
  • Sep 25-Sep 26, 1986 All data for this period
  • Oct 29-Oct 30, 1986 All data for this period
  • Nov 08-Nov 09, 1986 All data for this period
  • Dec 10-Dec 11, 1986 All data for this period
  • Jan 27-Jan 28, 1987 All data for this period
  • Jan 29-Jan 30, 1987 All data for this period
  • Feb 28-Mar 01, 1987 All data for this period
  • Mar 02-Mar 03, 1987 All data for this period
  • Mar 31-Apr 01, 1987 All data for this period
  • Apr 28-Apr 29, 1987 All data for this period
  • May 14-May 15, 1987 All data for this period
  • Jun 01-Jun 02, 1987 All data for this period
  • Aug 26-Aug 27, 1987 All data for this period
  • Sep 21-Sep 22, 1987 All data for this period
  • Sep 23-Sep 24, 1987 All data for this period
  • Sep 25-Sep 26, 1987 All data for this period
  • Oct 23-Oct 24, 1987 All data for this period
  • Oct 25-Oct 26, 1987 All data for this period
  • Nov 24-Nov 25, 1987 All data for this period
  • Jan 12-Jan 13, 1988 All data for this period
  • Jan 14-Jan 15, 1988 All data for this period
  • Jan 16-Jan 17, 1988 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1988 All data for this period
  • Mar 18-Mar 19, 1988 All data for this period
  • Mar 20-Mar 21, 1988 All data for this period
  • Apr 12-Apr 13, 1988 All data for this period
  • Jun 13-Jun 14, 1988 All data for this period
  • Jul 12-Jul 13, 1988 All data for this period
  • Sep 12-Sep 13, 1988 All data for this period
  • Oct 08-Oct 09, 1988 All data for this period
  • Oct 10-Oct 11, 1988 All data for this period
  • Oct 12-Oct 13, 1988 All data for this period
  • Oct 14-Oct 15, 1988 All data for this period
  • Nov 09-Nov 10, 1988 All data for this period
  • Dec 05-Dec 06, 1988 All data for this period
  • Dec 07-Dec 08, 1988 All data for this period
  • Dec 09-Dec 10, 1988 All data for this period
  • Dec 11-Dec 12, 1988 All data for this period
  • Feb 03-Feb 04, 1989 All data for this period
  • Feb 05-Feb 06, 1989 All data for this period
  • Feb 07-Feb 08, 1989 All data for this period
  • Feb 09-Feb 10, 1989 All data for this period
  • Apr 11-Apr 12, 1989 All data for this period
  • May 09-May 10, 1989 All data for this period
  • May 30-May 31, 1989 All data for this period
  • Jun 01-Jun 02, 1989 All data for this period
  • Jun 03-Jun 04, 1989 All data for this period
  • Aug 01-Aug 02, 1989 All data for this period
  • Aug 28-Aug 29, 1989 All data for this period
  • Aug 30-Aug 31, 1989 All data for this period
  • Oct 02-Oct 03, 1989 All data for this period
  • Oct 04-Oct 05, 1989 All data for this period
  • Oct 06-Oct 07, 1989 All data for this period
  • Oct 31-Nov 01, 1989 All data for this period
  • Nov 27-Nov 28, 1989 All data for this period
  • Jan 22-Jan 23, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jan 24-Jan 25, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jan 26-Jan 27, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jan 28-Jan 29, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 12-Feb 13, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 14-Feb 15, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 16-Feb 17, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 18-Feb 19, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 21-Feb 22, 1990 All data for this period
  • Feb 23-Feb 24, 1990 All data for this period
  • Mar 20-Mar 21, 1990 All data for this period
  • Mar 22-Mar 23, 1990 All data for this period
  • May 21-May 22, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jun 25-Jun 26, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jun 27-Jun 28, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jun 29-Jun 30, 1990 All data for this period
  • Sep 20-Sep 21, 1990 All data for this period
  • Nov 13-Nov 14, 1990 All data for this period
  • Nov 15-Nov 16, 1990 All data for this period
  • Nov 17-Nov 18, 1990 All data for this period
  • Dec 17-Dec 18, 1990 All data for this period
  • Dec 19-Dec 20, 1990 All data for this period
  • Jan 11-Jan 12, 1991 All data for this period
  • Mar 14-Mar 15, 1991 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 1991 All data for this period
  • Mar 18-Mar 19, 1991 All data for this period
  • Apr 09-Apr 10, 1991 All data for this period
  • Jun 05-Jun 06, 1991 All data for this period
  • Jun 11-Jun 12, 1991 All data for this period
  • Jul 10-Jul 11, 1991 All data for this period
  • Jul 31-Aug 01, 1991 All data for this period
  • Aug 02-Aug 03, 1991 All data for this period
  • Aug 04-Aug 05, 1991 All data for this period
  • Sep 10-Sep 11, 1991 All data for this period
  • Oct 07-Oct 08, 1991 All data for this period
  • Oct 09-Oct 10, 1991 All data for this period
  • Jan 27-Jan 28, 1992 All data for this period
  • Jan 29-Jan 30, 1992 All data for this period
  • Mar 30-Mar 31, 1992 All data for this period
  • Apr 01-Apr 02, 1992 All data for this period
  • Apr 03-Apr 04, 1992 All data for this period
  • May 05-May 06, 1992 All data for this period
  • Jun 23-Jun 24, 1992 All data for this period
  • Jul 30-Jul 31, 1992 All data for this period
  • Aug 01-Aug 02, 1992 All data for this period
  • Aug 03-Aug 04, 1992 All data for this period
  • Aug 05-Aug 06, 1992 All data for this period
  • Oct 27-Oct 28, 1992 All data for this period
  • Nov 23-Nov 24, 1992 All data for this period
  • Nov 25-Nov 26, 1992 All data for this period
  • Jan 20-Jan 21, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 22-Jan 23, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 24-Jan 25, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 26-Jan 27, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 28-Jan 29, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 30-Jan 31, 1993 All data for this period
  • Mar 17-Mar 18, 1993 All data for this period
  • May 18-May 19, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jun 15-Jun 16, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jul 20-Jul 21, 1993 All data for this period
  • Oct 18-Oct 19, 1993 All data for this period
  • Nov 09-Nov 10, 1993 All data for this period
  • Dec 07-Dec 08, 1993 All data for this period
  • Jan 11-Jan 12, 1994 All data for this period
  • Jan 13-Jan 14, 1994 All data for this period
  • Feb 08-Feb 09, 1994 All data for this period
  • Apr 12-Apr 13, 1994 All data for this period
  • May 03-May 04, 1994 All data for this period
  • Jun 09-Jun 10, 1994 All data for this period
  • Jul 05-Jul 06, 1994 All data for this period
  • Aug 10-Aug 11, 1994 All data for this period
  • Aug 12-Aug 13, 1994 All data for this period
  • Aug 14-Aug 15, 1994 All data for this period
  • Aug 16-Aug 17, 1994 All data for this period
  • Sep 06-Sep 07, 1994 All data for this period
  • Oct 04-Oct 05, 1994 All data for this period
  • Nov 08-Nov 09, 1994 All data for this period
  • Dec 06-Dec 07, 1994 All data for this period
  • Mar 01-Mar 02, 1995 All data for this period
  • Mar 28-Mar 29, 1995 All data for this period
  • May 01-May 02, 1995 All data for this period
  • May 03-May 04, 1995 All data for this period
  • May 05-May 06, 1995 All data for this period
  • Aug 23-Aug 24, 1995 All data for this period
  • Sep 27-Sep 28, 1995 All data for this period
  • Oct 23-Oct 24, 1995 All data for this period
  • Oct 25-Oct 26, 1995 All data for this period
  • Oct 27-Oct 28, 1995 All data for this period
  • Jan 06-Jan 07, 1997 All data for this period
  • Jan 08-Jan 09, 1997 All data for this period
  • Jan 10-Jan 11, 1997 All data for this period
  • Jun 23-Jun 24, 1998 All data for this period
  • Aug 18-Aug 19, 1998 All data for this period
  • Oct 19-Oct 20, 1998 All data for this period
  • Oct 21-Oct 22, 1998 All data for this period
  • Feb 09-Feb 10, 1999 All data for this period
  • Feb 11-Feb 12, 1999 All data for this period
  • Mar 08-Mar 09, 1999 All data for this period
  • Mar 10-Mar 11, 1999 All data for this period
  • Mar 12-Mar 13, 1999 All data for this period
  • Apr 20-Apr 21, 1999 All data for this period
  • Jul 06-Jul 07, 1999 All data for this period
  • Jul 08-Jul 09, 1999 All data for this period
  • Sep 15-Sep 16, 1999 All data for this period
  • Sep 17-Sep 18, 1999 All data for this period
  • Oct 12-Oct 13, 1999 All data for this period
  • Oct 14-Oct 15, 1999 All data for this period
  • Mar 14-Mar 15, 2000 All data for this period
  • Mar 16-Mar 17, 2000 All data for this period
  • Apr 11-Apr 12, 2000 All data for this period
  • Apr 13-Apr 14, 2000 All data for this period
  • Apr 15-Apr 16, 2002 , LTCS Apr 15-Apr 16, 2002 All data for this period
  • Apr 17-Apr 18, 2002 , LTCS Apr 17, 2002 All data for this period



    • Other IS Radars

    Daily Listing for IS/HF Radars

    -Revised 09 December 2002 by emery@ucar.edu