Determination of meteor-head echo trajectories using the interferometric capabilities of MAARSY
During the flight of a meteoroid through the neutral atmosphere, the high kinetic energy is sufficient to ionize the meteoric constituents. Radar echoes coming from plasma irregularities surrounding the meteoroids are called meteor-head echoes, and can be detected by HPLA radar systems. Measurem...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2013-10-01
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| Series: | Annales Geophysicae |
| Online Access: | https://www.ann-geophys.net/31/1843/2013/angeo-31-1843-2013.pdf |
| Summary: | During the flight of a meteoroid through the neutral atmosphere, the high
kinetic energy is sufficient to ionize the meteoric constituents. Radar
echoes coming from plasma irregularities surrounding the meteoroids are
called meteor-head echoes, and can be detected by HPLA radar systems.
Measurements of these echoes were conducted with MAARSY (Middle Atmosphere
Alomar Radar System) in December 2010. The interferometric capabilities of
the radar system permit the determination of the meteor trajectories within
the radar beam with high accuracy. The received data are used to gain
information about entry velocities, source radiants, observation heights and
other meteoroid parameters. Our preliminary results indicate that the
majority of meteors have masses between 10<sup>−10</sup> and 10<sup>−3</sup> kg and the
mean masses of the sporadic meteors and Gemenids meteors are ∼10<sup>−8</sup> kg. |
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| ISSN: | 0992-7689 1432-0576 |