EISCAT

[1] The EISCAT Scientific Association exists to provide scientists with access to incoherent scatter radar facilities of the highest technical standard.

The radar antennas are located in Tromsø, Norway; Sodankylä, Finland and Kiruna, Sweden, north of the Scandinavian Arctic Circle.

The core in the tri-static system, is located at Ramfjordmoen, outside Tromsø, Norway with a 32 meter mechanically fully steerable parabolic dish used for transmission and reception in the UHF-band.

Operating in the 930 MHz band with a transmitter peak power 2.0 MW, 12.5% duty cycle and 1 μs – 10 ms pulse length with frequency and phase modulation capability.

And the VHF radar that operates in the 224 MHz band with transmitter peak power 3 MW, 12.5% duty cycle and 1 μs – 2 ms pulse length with frequency and phase modulation capability.

[6] The location in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, high above the arctic circle and near the north pole, offers unique capabilities in auroral research.

Svalbard’s unique climate with polar night from November until February, make the season for observing the northern lights long.

The EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) also operates the UHF-band, at 500 MHz with a transmitter peak power of 1000 kW, 25 % duty cycle and 1 μs – 2 ms pulse length with frequency and phase modulation capability.

But the plans to establish a research facility focusing on incoherent scatter technology in the Northern Lights zone, started as early as 1969.