Enhanced Meteoroid Trajectory and Speed Reconstruction Using a Forward Scatter Radio Network: Pre‐t0 ${t}_{0}$ Phase Technique and Uncertainty Analysis

Balis, Joachim; Lamy, Hervé; Anciaux, Michel; Jehin, Emmanuel; De Keyser, Johan; Kastinen, Daniel; Brown, Peter G.

doi:10.1029/2025rs008305

Article (Scientific journals)

Enhanced Meteoroid Trajectory and Speed Reconstruction Using a Forward Scatter Radio Network: Pre‐t0 ${t}_{0}$ Phase Technique and Uncertainty Analysis

Balis, Joachim; Lamy, Hervé; Anciaux, Michel et al.

2025 • In Radio Science, 60 (8)

Peer reviewed

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/335088

DOI
10.1029/2025rs008305

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Keywords :

meteoroids; forward scatter; trajectory reconstruction; uncertainty quantification; markov chain monte carlo

Abstract :

[en] This study presents an enhanced method for reconstructing meteoroid trajectories and speeds using the Belgian RAdio Meteor Stations forward scatter radio network. A novel extension of the pre‐ phase technique, originally developed for backscatter radars, has been adapted for forward scatter continuous wave systems. This method leverages phase data recorded before the meteoroid reaches the specular reflection point to improve speed estimations. Additionally, we combine this newly determined pre‐ speed information with time of flight measurements into the trajectory solver to reduce uncertainties in meteoroid path and speed reconstructions. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo method is employed to propagate measurement uncertainties to the trajectory parameters. The reconstructed trajectories and speeds are validated against optical data from the CAMS‐BeNeLux network. The results show significant improvements in the accuracy and robustness of speed and inclination determination.

Disciplines :

Space science, astronomy & astrophysics

Author, co-author :

Balis, Joachim ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR) ; Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy Brussels Belgium

Lamy, Hervé ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'astrophysique, géophysique et océanographie (AGO) > COMets METeors and Asteroids (COMETA) ; Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy Brussels Belgium

Anciaux, Michel ; Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy Brussels Belgium

Jehin, Emmanuel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Unités de recherche interfacultaires > Space sciences, Technologies and Astrophysics Research (STAR)

De Keyser, Johan ; Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy Brussels Belgium

Kastinen, Daniel ; Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF) Kiruna Sweden

Brown, Peter G.; Department of Physics and Astronomy Western University London ON Canada ; Institute for Earth and Space Exploration Western University London ON Canada

Language :

English

Title :

Enhanced Meteoroid Trajectory and Speed Reconstruction Using a Forward Scatter Radio Network: Pre‐t0 ${t}_{0}$ Phase Technique and Uncertainty Analysis

Publication date :

06 August 2025

Journal title :

Radio Science

ISSN :

0048-6604

Publisher :

American Geophysical Union (AGU)

Volume :

Issue :

Peer reviewed :

Peer reviewed

Additional URL :

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025RS008305

Name of the research project :

Solar-Terrestrial Centre of Excellence

Funders :

BELSPO - Belgian Federal Science Policy Office
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Available on ORBi :

since 09 August 2025

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