Imaging ionospheric inhomogeneities using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar

Pi, X., Freeman, A., Chapman, B., Rosen, P. and Li, Z. (2011) Imaging ionospheric inhomogeneities using spaceborne synthetic aperture radar. Journal of Geophysical Research, 116, A04303. (doi: 1029/2010JA016267)

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Abstract

We present a technique and results of 2-D imaging of Faraday rotation and total electron content using spaceborne L band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR). The results are obtained by processing PolSAR data collected using the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) on board the Advanced Land Observation Satellite. Distinguished ionospheric inhomogeneities are captured in 2-D images from space with relatively high resolutions of hundreds of meters to a couple of kilometers in auroral-, middle-, and low-latitude regions. The observed phenomena include aurora-associated ionospheric enhancement arcs, the middle-latitude trough, traveling ionospheric disturbances, and plasma bubbles, as well as ionospheric irregularities. These demonstrate a new capability of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar that will not only provide measurements to correction of ionospheric effects in Earth science imagery but also significantly benefit ionospheric studies.

Item Type:Articles
Keywords:InSAR Ionospheric effects Ionospheric correction polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR)
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Li, Dr Zhenhong
Authors: Pi, X., Freeman, A., Chapman, B., Rosen, P., and Li, Z.
Subjects:G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Q Science > QC Physics
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Journal of Geophysical Research
Journal Abbr.:JGR
Publisher:American Geophysical Union
ISSN:0148-0227
ISSN (Online):2156-2202
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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
513031GAS: Generic Atmosphere Solutions for radar measurementsZhenhong LiNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/H001085/1School of Geographical and Earth Sciences