URSI GASS 2023 Optional tour to the Rikubetsu Observatory and the SuperDARN HOP radar site

2023-09-08

Right after the URSI GASS 2023 Conference at Sapporo Convention Center (Sapporo city, Hokkaido, Japan) during August 19-26, 2023, an optional tour to the Rikubetsu Observatory and the SuperDARN HOP radar site, both belonging to Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, was held on August 28, 2023. There were 39 participants (including the guides).
The Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) is a network of High Frequency (HF) radars located in the high- and mid-latitude regions of both hemispheres that is used to study the dynamics of the ionosphere and upper atmosphere on global scales. There are a total of more than 35 SuperDARN radars. There are two SuperDARN radars, called Hokkaido Pair of (HOP) radars, located in Rikubetsu Town, about 20 km away from the Rikubetsu Observatory. The participants visited the Rikubetsu Observatory in the morning, and the SuperDARN radar site in the afternoon. The participants looked at the radar system and antennas intensively, then asked several questions.