Clustered-Instrument Studies of Ionospheric Wave Disturbances Accompanying Rocket Launches

Abstract

The observations of wave disturbances in the ionosphere at altitudes of 180-500 km accompanying rocket launches at distances of 2000ё10000 km are analyzed. The measurements have been taken by the incoherent scatter (ISR) and HF Doppler radars. The relative amplitudes and periods of wave disturbances caused by the sources of different origin are estimated. The theoretical sensitivity of the ISR and Doppler techniques for detecting such wave disturbances has been studied. The measurements taken by both techniques are found to be in good agreement. The observed velocities of wave disturbances accompanying rocket launches are found to be approximately equal to those obtained in our earlier studies. They correspond to the velocities of acoustic-gravity, slow magnetohydrodynamic, and possibly gyrotropic waves in the ionosphere.