Improved electron density measurements at Jicamarca

Abstract

Taking into account the effects of electron Coulomb collisions, incoherent scatter (IS) radar cross sections for probing angles close to perpendicular to the magnetic field have been calculated and used to correct backscattered power profiles measured with the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar so that they accurately represent the height variation of the ionospheric electron density. The corrected power profiles are compared with simultaneous Faraday rotation measurements of electron density. The profiles agree within the measurements uncertainties. This result improves electron density measurements at Jicamarca, since power measurements are less sensitive to clutter and interference than Faraday rotation measurements. The results can be used to correct Jicamarca long‐term IS power measurements.