Characteristics of low latitude backscatter from ionospheric E region and F region field-aligned irregularities obtained with the Piura VHF radar

Abstract

We present a summary ofthe characteristics of echoes from ionospheric (E and F region) field-aligned irregularities obtained with the Piura VHF radar (~7.0° dip latitude, outside the equatorial electrojet region). Our results are based on (1) intermittent monostatic observations made between 1991 and 1999, (2) continuous monostatic observations made between January 2000 and June 2001, and (3) intermittent interferometric observations since August 2001. Among other important results, we have found that the E-region echoes are stronger and occur more frequently during local summer. In addition, we have observed that the seasonal and daily occurrences of Piura F-region irregularities are similar to the occurrence oftopside ESF irregularities over Jicamarca.