Using a bistatic Fabry-Perot interferometer system to improve the estimation of thermospheric winds

Hedlund, Peter R.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/16193 Copy

Description

Title

Using a bistatic Fabry-Perot interferometer system to improve the estimation of thermospheric winds

Author(s)

Hedlund, Peter R.

Issue Date

2010-05-19T18:40:15Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Makela, Jonathan J.

Department of Study

Electrical & Computer Eng

Discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Fabry-Perot Interferometer
• ionosphere
• thermosphere
• thermospheric winds
• atmospheric science

Abstract

One significant cause of disruption in the propagation of low-power, trans- atmospheric radio waves is equatorial spread F (ESF). The Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) causes the development of many types of ESF events. It has been theorized that thermospheric winds have a substantial e ect on the growth rate of the RTI, but very little data has been gathered to verify or disprove this idea. This thesis proposes a method for synchronously using two ground-based Fabry-Perot interferometers (FPI) to estimate thermospheric winds. When a single FPI is used, assumptions must be made to obtain meaningful wind data, but there are inherent limitations to the usefulness of the data caused by the use of these assumptions. It must be assumed that either the vertical wind speed is zero or the vertical and horizontal winds are uniform for the entire observation area in order to obtain meaningful wind speed estimates. In addition, data from a single FPI cannot be used to identify complex struc- tures in the wind eld. However, a bistatic FPI system (BFPIS) can be used to obtain full vector wind information in two or more locations. This observa- tion methodology also has potential for reducing the number of assumptions that must be made. For a BFPIS, it need only be assumed that the vertical wind is uniform for the observation area. We begin with a review of the physical principles and typical methods for using an FPI to estimate thermospheric winds and temperatures. We then propose a method for using a BFPIS to improve collected data, as compared to using a single FPI, and present simulations that validate this method.

Graduation Semester

2010-5

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16193

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2010 Peter Hedlund

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