38th Annual European Meeting on Atmospheric Studies by Optical Methods, 22-26 August 2011, Siuntio, Finland

EISCAT_3D, New generation Incoherent Scatter Radar to Northern Fennoscandia

A. Aikio¹, Th.Ulich², M. Lehtinen²,E. Turunen³

¹Dept of Physics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland,
²Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory, Sodankylä, Finland,
³EISCAT Scientific Association, Kiruna, Sweden

Abstract

In this presentation, we describe the present status of the EISCAT_3D incoherent scatter radar, which is planned to replace the existing EISCAT radars in Tromsø (Norway), Kiruna (Sweden) and Sodankylä (Finland). EISCAT_3D will be a key facility for many research areas including atmospheric science, auroral and space physics as well as space weather applications. EISCAT_3D has been accepted on the ESFRI Roadmap for Large-Scale European Research Infrastructures for the next 20-30 years. The design work of the new phased array radar is going on under the EU-funded FP7 Preparatory Phase project. In addition, national funding is used to build a phased array receiver called KAIRA at Kilpisjärvi. The installation work will start in summer 2011.