SuperDARN Antenna Calibration using Air Traffic Data

SuperDARN radars have traditionally been calibrated using two methods: electrical measurements on site, and phase measurements between the main and auxiliary arrays. These methods are imperfect, as site visits are infrequent and array-level calibration neglects antenna-based errors. Aircraft measurements are a superior calibration method. Aircraft are ideally suited for SuperDARN radar calibrations, as they are numerous, compact, fly within the radar field-of-view, and their positions are catalogued frequently. This work uses the OpenSky Network air traffic database in conjunction with SuperDARN radar measurements to identify airplanes and use them to calibrate the Saskatoon SuperDARN Canada radar on a per-antenna basis.