Hainan Coherent Scatter Phased Array Radar (HCOPAR): System Design and Ionospheric Irregularity Observations

The Hainan coherent scatter phased array radar (HCOPAR) is one of the most important radio systems of the Chinese Meridian Space Weather Monitoring Project (Meridian Project). The radar is located at Fuke station (19.5°N, 109.1°E, dip latitude 8.1°N), Hainan island, China, to observe the field-aligned irregularities in ionospheric E- and F-regions. It is operated with a peak power of 54 kW and uses the Barker codes for good sensitivity. Its antenna array is composed of 18×4 five-element Yagi antennas and is used for both transmitting and receiving. The Yagi antennas are arranged in a rectangular grid 100 m long and 20 m wide, covering an area of 2000 m
²
. This antenna arrangement forms seven radar beams from -22.5° to 22.5° in azimuth with an angle step of 7.5°. The central beam points to due geographic north. A brief description of the radar system, data processing, and signal characteristics is also provided. The intensity, Doppler velocities, and spectral widths of the quasi-periodic echoes measured in the nighttime of June 23, 2013 are presented as typical data of type II irregularities in the E-region. The data recorded by the HCOPAR in the fan-beam mode on September 15, 2013 are displayed as the typical F-region plasma bubbles.