Study of non-linear phenomena in the polar ionosphere induced by the SPEAR heating facility

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This proposal seeks to build up a close collaboration in Svalbard in upper atmosphere physics between the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) in Longyearbyen and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) from St. Petersburg, Russia. The focus of this project is to study non-linear phenomena in the upper polar atmosphere above Svalbard using available Norwegian and Russian radio instrumentation in Longyearbyen and Barentsburg. The UNIS operated SPEAR heating facility will be used for ionospheric modification experiments to generate ionospheric irregularities, and the EISCAT Svalbard Radar will be used to monitor the behaviour of plasma parameters. Russian radio equipment operated by AARI in Barentsburg will be used for studies of intensive stimul ated electromagnetic emissions (SEE) phenomenology in the HF modified polar ionosphere. Remote diagnostics will be performed with use of the long-distance diagnostics radio equipment at the AARI observatory in St. Petersburg.