SuperDARN HF-radar Observation at Syowa Station

SuperDARN （Super Dual Auroral Radar Network） radar observes the two-dimensional distribution of the plasma drift in the ionospheric F region in a broad area (3600 km range and 53º azimuth) by using Doppler spectrum of the back-scattered echo of the HF range wave. The international SperDARN project started in 1995. At Syowa Station, the first SuperDARN radar (Syowa south) was installed by JARE-36 in 1995, and the second one (Syowa east) was by JARE-38 in 1997. SuperDARN radar is a phased array system using 16 log-periodic antennae with frequency of 8-20MHz. Height of each antenna is 15 m and the length of its element is 12 m. Each antenna is connected with eah Power Amplifier (PA) whose transmitting power is 600W. Transmitter and control unit are set in the radar hut at the radar site, and the data recording system is set in the observation building. Transmitting and control system of the Syowa south radar was renewed into the Stereo Radar system by JARE-46 in 2005.