Detecting Ionospheric Disturbances Using High Frequency Coastal Radar Transmissions From the West Coast of the United States

Abstract Coastal radar system are located around the world and many happen to transmit at frequencies capable of skywave propagation via the ionosphere. Therefore, they can be detected hundreds to thousands of kilometers away. This paper demonstrates the opportunity to detect 39 Coastal Ocean Dynamics Application Radar transmitters located on the western coast of the United States using three HF radio receivers in Utah and New Mexico. It also illustrates the possibility to use the phase and Doppler measurements of these signals to derive displacements of the refracting ionospheric layer up to meter resolution for the 2023 annular solar eclipse, an M‐class solar flare, and a Falcon 9 second stage reentry. This study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of coastal radar systems to make ionospheric measurements and conduct research.