TheUnwin Radar is a scientificradar array atAwarua, nearInvercargill,New Zealand46°31′S168°23′E / 46.51°S 168.38°E /-46.51; 168.38.
Unwin is part of theSuper Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN), an international radar network for studying the upper atmosphere and ionosphere that operates in theHigh Frequency (HF) bands between 8 and 22MHz.
The radar and associated research provides greater understanding of atmospheric weather, to assist withweather prediction, prediction of telecommunication interference and provide a better understanding of the effects of atmospheric magnetic fields on power grid management.[1]
The facility is operated byLa Trobe University and was named afterR.S. Unwin, a pioneer in auroral radar research,[2] who first proposed the concept behind the project in the 1960s[1]
Bursts ofshortwave radio pulses are transmitted from the radar in a southern arc that includes theSouth Magnetic Pole. The ensuing reflections frommicrometeorites, theionosphere,ocean andaurora are detected at the station and resolved there.
The TIGER-Unwin is a monostatic, pulsed radar that operates in the 8 MHz - 20 MHz range. The transmitting antenna consists of an array of 16log periodic antennas.
An additional four antennas placed some distance behind the transmitting array. These antennas are used to form an interferometer receiving array that measures the elevation angle of echoes. In thestandard operation mode the radar usesfrequency hopping where the transmission frequency changes to accommodate changing ionospheric conditions. Thisfrequency hopping is done by ongoing scanning the frequency band to determine automatically which channels are free of interference and provide the best coverage.
The data from Unwin is transmitted back toLa Trobe University where it is made available over the Internet to users. The Unwin Radar and its counterpart atBruny Island inTasmania form theTasman International Geospace Environment Radar (TIGER).[1]
The Southland region is regarded as an ideal location for such a facility because of the southerly aspect, low radio noise and unobstructed horizon.[1]
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