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

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.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical & Computer Engr

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Hedlund, Peter R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Makela, Jonathan J.

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

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Peter Hedlund

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

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

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16193