History of EISCAT – Part 6: the participation of Japan in the EISCAT Scientific Association

Abstract. In Sect. 1, the original planning of Japanese Svalbard IS (incoherent scatter) radar with phased-array antennas is described. In 1988, this plan was proposed as one of the major projects for the forthcoming Solar–Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Japan, to be reorganized by the Research Institute of Atmospherics at Nagoya University. On the other hand, in 1989, UK scientists proposed a plan of polar cap radar with parabolic dish antennas in Longyearbyen to the EISCAT (European incoherent scatter) Council. In Sect. 2, the circumstances leading to Japan's participation in the EISCAT Scientific Association, with details of its processes with strong collaborations with Norwegian scientists and the EISCAT Scientific Association are described. In 1995, Japan participated EISCAT Scientific Association as the seventh member country with funds contributing to the second dish antenna of the EISCAT Svalbard Radar. In Sect. 3, a summary of the EISCAT-related achievement by Japanese scientists is described, where major interests are the lower thermosphere wind dynamics, the magnetosphere–ionosphere–thermosphere coupling, characteristics, and driving mechanisms of ion upflow, electrodynamics of current, electric field and particles, characteristics and production mechanisms of auroras, such as pulsating aurora, and aurora tomography. In Sect. 4, a summary of the scientific collaborations between Japan and Europe, particularly those between Japan and Norway, and hopes for the forthcoming EISCAT_3D and further collaboration with EISCAT community are described.