A new HF radar for studies of the equatorial and low latitude ionosphere in Africa

Low-power HF radars have been operated for several decades at high latitudes to support research on ionospheric dynamics and its coupling to the magnetosphere and atmosphere, e.g., by the international SuperDARN collaboration. Backscatter from ionospheric irregularities is generated through the coherent scattering mechanism and the range of coverage is greatly extended by ionospheric refraction.  We report on the deployment of an HF radar at a site in Nigeria on the grounds of Bowen University to make observations in the equatorial and low latitude zones.  The targets for research with the new instrument include equatorial spread F, the equatorial electrojet, travelling ionospheric disturbances, mesospheric winds, atmospheric tides and planetary waves, HF propagation, and the impacts of solar disturbances and space weather.  The project has its origin in an emerging collaboration between U.S. and Nigerian researchers and is named VT-NigerBEAR (for Virginia Tech - Nigerian Bowen Equatorial Aeronomy Radar). We describe technical features of the radar design modified for the equatorial zone and preview the value of the new instrument as infrastructure for conducting ionospheric research across central Africa.

The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)