Spectral characteristics and scatter cross-section of low latitude mesospheric echoes measured by the Indian MST radar at Gadanki

Abstract. In November 2008 and in March and April 2009 the Indian MST radar (53 MHz) at Gadanki was operated during the daytime in a special experiment, with 600 m altitude resolution, for understanding the characteristics of low-latitude mesospheric echoes (LLME). The data of three days when the echoes were strongest have been analysed in terms of spectral widths and radar volume reflectivities. Spectral widths of LLME show some decrease with altitude, with median values of 4–6 m s⁻¹ at 69–72 km and of 2–4 m s⁻¹ at 73–78 km. This corresponds to 20–200 mW kg⁻¹ turbulent energy dissipation rates. It has been shown that stronger echoes have broader spectra consistent with a turbulent scattering mechanism. For the first time, the volume reflectivities for the strong LLME for Gadanki have also been calculated. They are in the range of 10⁻¹⁷–10⁻¹⁵ m⁻¹, so LLME at Gadanki are somewhat stronger than those reported so far from Jicamarca, Peru (Lehmacher et al., 2009).