Abstract
Rankin Inlet (RKN) SuperDARN radar observations simultaneously with the
Resolute Bay Incoherent scatter radar in nearly coinciding beams are
considered to investigate the relationship between the velocity of HF
echoes and ExB plasma drift component along the RKN beam. We focus on a
case of observations roughly along the flow direction on 6 March 2016.
We show that, depending on HF operating frequency, the RKN radar detects
either E or F region echoes. For the E region echoes and fast flows of
700-1000 m/s, HF velocities are of two types: very slow with speeds
below 100 m/s and fast with speeds up to 400 m/s. Velocities of slow
echoes can be of opposite polarity at 10 and 12 MHz and not coincide
with the ExB drift polarity. Velocities of fast echoes are somewhat
larger at 12 MHz as compared to 10 MHz and both are less than the
expected ion-acoustic speed of plasma at typical electrojet heights. No
strong range (presumably, aspect angle) attenuation effect is noticed in
the range profiles of such echoes. We relate the first type of echoes to
the neutral wind turbulence while the second type – to the
Farley-Buneman (FB) plasma instability processes. Periods have been
noticed when E region echoes had speeds of ~ 200 m/s
which is well below the ion-acoustic speed and ExB drift component. We
hypothesize that these echoes are owing to FB irregularities generated
at low electrojet heights. The observations show existence of extended
periods when the RKN radar detects F region echoes at 10 MHz and E
region echoes at 12 MHz at the same ranges implying that the
“transition region/ranges” for E and F region detection is very
sensitive to the observational conditions.