High-altitude-resolution stratospheric measurements with the Arecibo 2380-MHz radar

The 2380-MHz planetary radar of the Arecibo Observatory and the 30-m interferometer antenna at Higuialles, Puerto Rico, have been instrumented as a bistatic radar for stratospheric turbulence research studies. The average power of the transmitter is 400 kW, and it uses the 300-m Arecibo spherical reflector. A vertical resolution of 30 m has been achieved by means of a novel continuous pseudorandom phase coding scheme. Preliminary results obtained with the system are presented. The thickness and internal structure of turbulent stratospheric layers have been resolved for the first time. The potential of the instrument in assessing the role of turbulence in the vertical transport of tracers, contaminants, and momentum is discussed.