Studies of the F-region by the Incoherent Backscatter Method

The Millstone Hill radar facility operated by M. 1. T. Lincoln Laboratory has made measurements of the distribution of electrons in the. F-region of the ionosphere by observing the weak incoherent backscatter signal. These measurement were first made early in 1960 and were conti””ed thro”gho”t 1961 on a routine basis at least once a week. This report presents al I the electron density profll es measured up to the end of 1961. Res.1 ts of spectral analyses of the signals made early in 1962 are also given, The distribution of ele. trons ~bove the peak of the F-region has been a s“biect of special study. On the basis of the resul k obtained to dote the conclusions reached are: (a) the scale height of the electron density increases with height, (b) the ion temperature is not very dependent on height, though it does show a marked diurnal variation, (c) the election-to-ion temperature ratio is I:1 during the hours of darkness, but during the daytime it increases too peak value -1.6:1 around nmn and (d) the scattering cross section for the electrms is close to the expected value when al Iowo”ce is made for (c).