Davis 33MHz Meteor Detection Radar Winds

Brief description

This data set contains the characteristics of meteor detections from a 33MHz meteor detection radar operating at Davis station, Antarctica. The direction of arrival and radial velocity of these meteor detections can be used to infer average wind speed in the height range 75-105 km (depending on the season). Meteor detection data also includes signal power, decay time and the echo range. The experiment runs continuously, with the exception of data transfers and downtime for maintenance.

Data collection began in January 2005.

Initial operation used single dipole receive antennas that had low end-on sensitivity (to the NE and SW). These antennas were upgraded to crossed dipoles in early 2008 such that all receive directions could be observed.

The data is stored in two formats. One contains records corresponding to individual meteor detections (with a 'met' file type). The other contains inferred hourly wind velocity estimates for the mesosphere, lower thermosphere region (with a 'vel' file extension'.

Data are stored using a binary format designed by the radar manufacturer Atmospheric Radar Systems (ATRAD). The radar PI or ATRAD can be contacted for instructions on converting the data file format.