Detection of Ionospheric Structures with L-Band Synthetic Aperture Radars

Numerical simulations of low-latitude ionospheric instabilities show the formation of plasma density structures can be detected by synthetic aperture radar (SAR) radio signals. At L-band, the phase front distortions produced by propagation through plasma "bubbles" should provide measurable changes in both the complex-amplitude and polarization waves from orbiting satellite radars. The diffraction pattern from scattered ground SAR signals can be detected by orbiting receivers. Based on reciprocity, ground radars at Kwajalein Atoll are being used to determine the feasibility of space-based detection of ionospheric density structures. This new measurement technique can provide a global data base of ionospheric data for space-weather models that predict the effects of the ionosphere on radio systems.