This is a project to study the variability of plasma irregularities that occur during spread F conditions in the equatorial zone. The work will be done at the Jicamarca Radio Observatory using the new JULIA system, which is being installed there. Jicamarca has been the primary source of radar observations of spread F plasma irregularities since they were first systematically observed there over two decades ago. However, the impracticality of operating the complete Jicamarca radar at regular intervals for large stretches of time has led to a rather sporadic record of spread F observations. The low power JULIA system that is being implemented will allow more routine observations to be made. The work will include the development of experimental radar modes especially suited to spread F investigations and designed to make the best use of the Jicamarca antenna and the JULIA signal processing hardware. Software to manage the data acquisition as well as on-line data diagnostics will be written. Finally, a process for routinely collecting data, processing it into a compact form, and transmitting it to the CEDAR database will be established. A complete, long-duration record of plasma irregularities over Jicamarca during spread F would offer invaluable insight into the onset conditions, dynamics, and transport processes related to the underlying plasma instabilities.
