The SEEK (Sporadic‐E Experiment over Kyushu) Campaign

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Abstract
The SEEK (Sporadic‐E Experiment over Kyushu) campaign was conducted in late August 1996 from the southern region of Kyushu, Japan, to investigate the mechanism for the generation of quasi‐periodic (QP) radar backscatter from field‐aligned irregularities imbedded in nighttime sporadic‐E (Es) layers. SEEK was designed to determine in‐situ small‐scale electrodynamical properties using two sounding rockets and large‐scale dynamics and electrodynamics using ground‐based sensors, which included a transportable radar and other radio and optical instruments deployed in the vicinity of the rocket range. It was observed by this campaign that Es layers existed in a convergent wind shear region, where large electric fields were induced and when active atmospheric gravity waves existed in the mesosphere. However, there was little evidence which positively supported the hypothesis that Es layers were deeply modulated in altitude.