A new 3D display format relating azimuth-scanning radar data and all-sky images

We combine all-sky images of 630 nm airglow with the 3D structure of electron densities in the F-region above Arecibo. The line-of-sight electron densities obtained from the two azimuth-scanning beams of Arecibo incoherent scatter radar (ISR) are plotted in cone-shaped 3D visualizations along with horizontal projections of 630 nm airglow images. Displays of data in this new format from a night with ionospheric plasma irregularities demonstrate the improved perspective of the new format in revealing the 3D structure and evolution of the ionospheric plasma features over that provided by separate 2D plots in latitude and longitude for the all-sky airglow images and in height and time for the ISR electron densities.