Abstract
We have developed a model that simulates the power density profile of
the Saskatoon Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) radar at
ionospheric altitudes. The model uses ray tracing software to project
the radar system’s vacuum power profile to ionospheric altitudes, taking
into account the influence of the ionospheric medium on the propagation
characteristics of the High Frequency radio waves. Measurements of the
radar’s transmissions by the Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI) in
low-Earth orbit are used to validate the model during five experiments
which occurred between August 4-8, 2017. Comparisons between simulated
and measured RRI antenna voltages show good agreement, although there
are clear instances in which the model underperforms. Nevertheless, the
model demonstrates its utility as a tool for interpreting several RRI
measurements of SuperDARN radars. The model also helps address a lack of
knowledge of a SuperDARN radar’s power profile at ionospheric altitudes.
In particular, we assess the assumption that SuperDARN’s scattering
volume lies along the great-circle path of the transmitting beam’s
bearing. Comparisons between the model and RRI’s measurements show that
this assumption is reasonable for the five experiments investigated in
this work. The model presents a new way of carrying out SuperDARN and HF
radio science investigations.