Incoherent scatter refers to a ground-based technique for studying the earth's ionosphere. A radar beam scattering off electrons in the ionospheric plasma creates an incoherent scatter echo. The ionospheric electrons are controlled by the much slower and massive positive ions - electron density fluctuations relate to ion temperature, mass distribution, and motion. The incoherent scatter signal allows measurement of electron density, ion temperature and electron temperatures, ion composition and plasma velocity.

See also

• EISCAT
• Millstone Hill Observatory
• Arecibo Observatory
• Jicamarca Radio Observatory

External links

• EISCAT Homepage- about EISCAT, European Incoherent Scattter
• Millstone Hill Observatory Homepage - about Millstone Hill Observatory
• Incoherent scatter tutorial - from the MIT Haystack Observatory website
• Incoherent scatter locations - map of world operational incoherent scatter radars
• AMISR - Advanced Modular Incoherent Scatter Radar