Study of Geminid Shower Activity Using Meteor Wind Radar

Abstract

The meteor wind radar at Nagarampalem field station of Space Research Laboratories, Andhra University, Waltair, (lat., 17° 43' N; long., 83° 18' E) was operated continuously during 11-16 Dec. 1977 covering the peak activity of Geminid meteor shower and nearly a total of 1,763 radio meteor echoes were observed in 24 hr during shower maximum period. The diurnal variation, of echo rates is discussed and compared with 'the visual and radio meteor observations of earlier workers at Waltair. The activity during shower and non-shower periods is compared and found to agree with the results of meteor forward scatter communication experiment between Waltair and Dehra Dun. The variation of elevation of the shower radiant with time is estimated and the observed meteor rate is discussed in relation to the elevation of the shower radiant.