The highly advanced ICEBEAR-3D E-region coherent imaging radar
- 1University of Saskatchewan, Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies (ISAS), Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Canada (glenn.hussey@usask.ca)
- 2Department of Physics and Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromso, Norway
ICEBEAR (Ionospheric Continuous-wave E-region Bistatic Experimental Auroral Radar) employs advanced software defined radio (SDR) and aperture synthesis radar imaging to produce unambiguous high resolution (1--2~km) 3-dimensional (range, azimuth, elevation) coherent E-region observations. ICEBEAR-3D operates in the VHF at 49.5~MHz observing the auroral zone of the ionosphere from western Canada (58N, 106W geographic). The receiver antenna array was re-configuration in 2019 to a non-uniform co-planar T-shaped double interferometer layout to complete the ICEBEAR design and allow for unambiguous, highly detailed, high-resolution coherent radar E-region observations. We present the antenna array re-configuration; the novel and advanced synthesis aperture radar imaging technique; a low elevation angle accuracy and reliability solution; validations and calibrations of ICEBEAR-3D using celestial radio sources (Cygnus A) and interferometer closure angles; as well as some initial E-region and meteor trail observations and analysis.
How to cite: Hussey, G., Lozinsky, A., Pitzel, B., Ivarsen, M., Galsechuk, D., Huyghebaert, D., McWilliams, K., and St. Maurice, J.-P.: The highly advanced ICEBEAR-3D E-region coherent imaging radar, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-10103, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-10103, 2023.
