EISCAT

EISCAT, the European Incoherent Scatter Scientific Association, was founded in 1976 with the purpose to conduct research on the lower, middle and upper atmosphere and ionosphere using the incoherent scatter radar technique. EISCAT conducts ionospheric and atmospheric measurements with radars. This technique is the most powerful ground-based tool for these research applications. As an example EISCATs radars can observe effects resulting from aurora borealis. From 1 January 2025, EISCAT is a state owned company, EISCAT AB, registered in Sweden. All assets, liabilities, good wills, etc. were transferred from EISCAT Scientific Association at that time. It is Finland, Norway and Sweden jointly owning the company. The purpose of the company continues to be the same as before: providing research infrastructure to its users. EISCAT is also being used as a coherent scatter radar for studying instabilities in the ionosphere, as well as for investigating the structure and dynamics of the middle atmosphere and as a diagnostic instrument in ionospheric modification experiments with the Heating facility, a combined ionospheric heating and short-wave radar facility. EISCAT operates in: Finland, Norway, including Svalbard, and Sweden, and all facilities are located north of the Arctic Circle. EISCAT is almost done in building a new system, EISCAT_3D, which will replace the current mainland radar systems. EISCAT_3D is a modern, multi-static, phased array radar system. The construction started in 2017 and the new system will be ready for use late 2025.