Height dependence of the observed spectrum of radar backscatter from HF‐induced ionospheric Langmuir turbulence

Observations of the spectrum of 430‐MHz radar backscatter from HF‐induced Langmuir turbulence with height discrimination are described. During very stable ionospheric conditions under which the height of the below‐threshold backscatter spectrum had changed by less than 300 m during a 7‐min period, a 20‐s‐long temporary increase in the HF power from 3 MW ERP to 38 MW equivalent radiated HF power resulted in subsequent strong above‐threshold spectra extending to heights up to 1200 m greater than the height of the below‐threshold spectrum for more than a minute. The generation of irregularities in the plasma density during the 20 s of enhanced HF power is suggested as a possible cause of this persistence of strong above‐threshold spectra at greater heights. The initial temporal evolution of the backscatter spectrum from Langmuir turbulence after the start of HF transmissions was observed for different heights. The observational results are compared with the predictions of existing theories of Langmuir turbulence.