Triple-frequency meteor radar full wave scattering

Context. Radar scattering from meteor trails depends on several poorly constrained quantities, such as electron line density, q , initial trail radius, r 0 and ambipolar diffusion coefficient, D. Aims. The goal is to apply a numerical model of full wave backscatter triple frequency echo measurements validate theory constrain estimates radial distribution, the coefficient. Methods. A selection 50 transversely polarized parallel echoes with complete trajectory information were identified simultaneous tri-frequency recorded by Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar. amplitude-time profile each was fit our using three different choices for distribution assuming Gaussian, parabolic-exponential, 1-by-r 2 density model. observations manually varying, D per until all synthetic echo-amplitude profiles at matched observation. Results. Gaussian most successful fitting power profiles, followed 1∕ . We unable any where varied axis an exponential-parabolic distribution. While fewer than 5% examined had self-consistent fits, function height obtained broadly similar earlier studies, though considerable scatter. Most are found not be described well idealized