Real Heights of SuperDARN F Region Echoes Inferred From Electron Density Measurements by the Rankin Inlet and RISR‐C Radars

Abstract This study is one of the first attempts to estimate statistically the real height of SuperDARN F region echoes in the polar cap. To achieve this, measurements of the electron density in the scattering volume of the Rankin Inlet SuperDARN radar are compared with the electron density profiles measured by the incoherent scatter radar RISR‐C (located at Resolute Bay) in beams oriented toward Rankin Inlet. The scatter height of echoes was found to be in the range of 210–270 km with the most frequently occurring values of ∼230–250 km. Overall, no strong trend in echo height versus local time was identified although the tendency for heights to be lower during noon/afternoon hours was noticed. Seasonally, the echo heights were ∼10 km higher at equinox compared to winter. The echo heights were below F2 layer peak height by ∼45 km with largest offsets during morning/prenoon hours. Typical difference in the height of 12 and 10 MHz echoes was found to be 10–15 km with no obvious diurnal and seasonal trends.