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Journal ArticleDOI

Effect of self‐absorption on attenuation of lightning and transmitter signals in the lower ionosphere

01 May 2014-Journal of Geophysical Research (John Wiley & Sons, Ltd)-Vol. 119, Iss: 5, pp 4062-4076
TL;DR: In this paper, a self-consistent model of ionospheric heating is presented using a time-domain model of VLF wave propagation through the ionosphere, which is able to estimate the attenuation of signals due to heating below ∼100 km altitude.
Abstract: The attenuation of VLF signals from lightning and ground-based VLF transmitters during transionospheric propagation has been the subject of recent interest, as discrepancies have been found between satellite data and model calculations. Previous modeling efforts, however, have not considered the self-absorption effect due to nonlinear heating and ionization in the lower ionosphere. A self-consistent model of ionospheric heating is presented here using a time-domain model of VLF wave propagation through the ionosphere. The model is able to estimate the attenuation of signals due to heating below ∼100 km altitude. In this model, the ionospheric state is updated as the fields propagate, leading to changes in collision frequency and electron density, which in turn affect the wave propagation. We use this model for ground-based VLF transmitters at different frequencies, amplitudes, and latitudes (i.e., magnetic dip angle), and for lightning-generated sferics with different amplitudes, at different latitudes, and using a variety of ionospheric density profiles. We find that the inclusion of self-consistent heating causes a change in the transionospherically propagating wave amplitude that varies considerably with the source amplitude and other parameters. Typical values for the heating contribution to wave attenuation are 1−2 dB for VLF transmitters, but greater than 10 dB for large amplitude lightning discharges. An interesting effect is observed for VLF transmitters and low-amplitude lightning, where the signal is actually enhanced due to heating, rather than attenuated, in the direction propagating across the Earth's magnetic field.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used three models: the long-wave propagation capability, a finite-difference (FD) time-domain model, and an FD frequencydomain model.
Abstract: Simulations of Very-low-frequency (VLF) transmitter signals are conducted using three models: the long-wave propagation capability, a finite-difference (FD) time-domain model, and an FD frequency-domain model. The FD models are corrected using Richardson extrapolation to minimize the numerical dispersion inherent in these models. Using identical ionosphere and ground parameters, the three models are shown to agree very well in their simulated VLF signal amplitude and phase, to within 1 dB of amplitude and a few degrees of phase, for a number of different simulation paths and transmitter frequencies. Furthermore, the three models are shown to produce comparable phase changes for the same ionosphere perturbations, again to within a few degrees. Finally, we show that the models reproduce the phase data of existing VLF transmitter–receiver pairs reasonably well, although the nighttime variation in the measured phase data is not captured by the simplified characterization of the ionosphere.

24 citations


Cites methods from "Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..."

  • ...The FDTD model used here was developed in [26] and [27] to simulate the electromagnetic pulse emitted by lightning discharges and its interaction with the lower ionosphere....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the simulation data and plot codes presented here are available from figshare repository at https://figshare.com/s/f1c9f6c7 bc728d6669dd.
Abstract: This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, MINECO, under projects ESP2015-69909-C5-2-R and ESP2017-86263-C4-4-R and by the EU through the H2020 Science and Innovation with Thunderstorms (SAINT) project (Ref. 722337) and the FEDER program. F.J.P.I. acknowledges a PhD research contract, code BES-2014-069567. A.L. was supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's H2020 program/ERC grant agreement 681257. The simulation data and plot codes presented here are available from figshare repository at https://figshare.com/s/f1c9f6c7 bc728d6669dd. Alternatively, requests for the data and codes used to generate or displayed in figures, graphs, plots, or tables are also available after a request is made to the authors F.J.P.I. (fjpi@iaa.es), A. L. (aluque@iaa.es), or F. J. G.V. (vazquez@iaa.es).

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the effect of first and subsequent return-stroke currents on the average reflection height for 108 first and 124 subsequent strokes at distances greater than 100 km.

20 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present numerical simulations and analysis of atmospheric effects of a beam of 1~MeV electrons precipitating in the upper atmosphere from above, and calculate ionization signatures and optical emissions in the atmosphere.
Abstract: We present numerical simulations and analysis of atmospheric effects of a beam of 1~MeV electrons precipitating in the upper atmosphere from above. Beam parameters of 100~J or 1~kJ injected in 100~ms or 1~second were chosen to reflect the current design requirements for a realistic mission. We calculate ionization signatures and optical emissions in the atmosphere, and estimate the detectability of optical signatures using photometers and cameras on the ground. Results show that both instruments should be able to detect the beam spot. Chemical simulations show that the production of odd nitrogen and odd hydrogen are minimal. We use electrostatic field simulations to show that the beam-induced electron density column can enhance thunderstorm electric fields at high altitudes enough to facilitate sprite triggering. Finally, we calculate signatures that would be observed by incoherent scatter radar (ISR) and subionospheric VLF remote sensing techniques, although the latter is hindered by the limitations of 2D simulations.

17 citations


Cites methods from "Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..."

  • ...The electron-neutral collision frequency profile is determined using the method described by Marshall (2014)....

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Journal ArticleDOI

15 citations


Cites background from "Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..."

  • ...The heating and ionization associated with elves further affects the propagation of lightning-generated sferics into the magnetosphere by modifying the propagation medium [Marshall, 2014]....

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References
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The BOLSIG+ solver as mentioned in this paper provides steady-state solutions of the BE for electrons in a uniform electric field, using the classical two-term expansion, and is able to account for different growth models, quasi-stationary and oscillating fields, electron-neutral collisions and electron-electron collisions.
Abstract: Fluid models of gas discharges require the input of transport coefficients and rate coefficients that depend on the electron energy distribution function. Such coefficients are usually calculated from collision cross-section data by solving the electron Boltzmann equation (BE). In this paper we present a new user-friendly BE solver developed especially for this purpose, freely available under the name BOLSIG+, which is more general and easier to use than most other BE solvers available. The solver provides steady-state solutions of the BE for electrons in a uniform electric field, using the classical two-term expansion, and is able to account for different growth models, quasi-stationary and oscillating fields, electron–neutral collisions and electron–electron collisions. We show that for the approximations we use, the BE takes the form of a convection-diffusion continuity-equation with a non-local source term in energy space. To solve this equation we use an exponential scheme commonly used for convection-diffusion problems. The calculated electron transport coefficients and rate coefficients are defined so as to ensure maximum consistency with the fluid equations. We discuss how these coefficients are best used in fluid models and illustrate the influence of some essential parameters and approximations.

2,633 citations


"Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...Mobility, detachment, attachment, ionization, and optical excitation rates all scale with neutral density, which is taken from an MSIS-E-00 profile [Hedin, 1991] at the same time and location....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the MSIS-86 empirical model has been extended into the mesosphere and lower atmosphere to provide a single analytic model for calculating temperature and density profiles representative of the climatological average for various geophysical conditions.
Abstract: The MSIS-86 empirical model has been revised in the lower thermosphere and extended into the mesosphere and lower atmosphere to provide a single analytic model for calculating temperature and density profiles representative of the climatological average for various geophysical conditions. Tabulations from the Handbook for MAP 16 are the primary guide for the lower atmosphere and are supplemented by historical rocket and incoherent scatter data in the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere. Low-order spherical harmonics and Fourier series are used to describe the major variations throughout the atmosphere including latitude, annual, semiannual, and simplified local time and longitude variations. While month to month details cannot be completely represented, lower atmosphere temperature data are fit to an overall standard deviation of 3 K and pressure to 2%. Comparison with rocket and other data indicates that the model represents current knowledge of the climatological average reasonably well, although there is some conflict as to details near the mesopause.

2,359 citations


"Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ...A simpler solution is to use a time-domain method that self-consistently updates the electron-neutral collision frequency and electron density during the wave propagation. Self-consistent models of the lightning-ionosphere interaction have existed for some time, beginning with the 1-D formulation of Taranenko et al. [1993a, 1993b]. Two-dimensional and 3-D models have been developed in recent years [Cho and Rycroft, 2001; Nagano et al., 2003; Marshall et al., 2010] and have assessed the chemical effects of lightning in the lower ionosphere through heating, ionization, optical emissions, dissociative attachment, and most recently, associative detachment [Luque and Gordillo-Vázquez, 2011; Liu, 2011; Neubert et al., 2011]. In this paper we use the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) model of Marshall [2012] to calculate wave propagation and nonlinear effects due to lightning and VLF transmitters. The EMP model is a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model designed to simulate lightning discharges but is easily modified to simulate a sinusoidal source from a small dipole (similar to a ground-based VLF transmitter). Details on the model formulation can be found in Marshall [2012]. Crucial to this application, the model is cast in spherical coordinates, which inherently accounts for Earth curvature. Arbitrary and inhomogeneous ionosphere, neutral atmosphere, magnetic fields, and ground parameters (conductivity and permittivity) can be included in the model. We calculate nonlinear effects (heating and ionization) in the ionosphere differently for VLF transmitters and for lightning, for reasons that will be explained presently. For lightning, the electron mobility, ionization, attachment, and optical excitation rates are calculated as a function of electric field using BOLSIG+ [Hagelaar and Pitchford, 2005]; the detachment rate is calculated from equation (17) of Neubert et al. [2011]. Figure 1 of Marshall [2012] shows the rates used, which scale with neutral density, as a function of electric field....

    [...]

  • ...A simpler solution is to use a time-domain method that self-consistently updates the electron-neutral collision frequency and electron density during the wave propagation. Self-consistent models of the lightning-ionosphere interaction have existed for some time, beginning with the 1-D formulation of Taranenko et al. [1993a, 1993b]. Two-dimensional and 3-D models have been developed in recent years [Cho and Rycroft, 2001; Nagano et al., 2003; Marshall et al., 2010] and have assessed the chemical effects of lightning in the lower ionosphere through heating, ionization, optical emissions, dissociative attachment, and most recently, associative detachment [Luque and Gordillo-Vázquez, 2011; Liu, 2011; Neubert et al., 2011]. In this paper we use the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) model of Marshall [2012] to calculate wave propagation and nonlinear effects due to lightning and VLF transmitters....

    [...]

  • ...A simpler solution is to use a time-domain method that self-consistently updates the electron-neutral collision frequency and electron density during the wave propagation. Self-consistent models of the lightning-ionosphere interaction have existed for some time, beginning with the 1-D formulation of Taranenko et al. [1993a, 1993b]. Two-dimensional and 3-D models have been developed in recent years [Cho and Rycroft, 2001; Nagano et al., 2003; Marshall et al., 2010] and have assessed the chemical effects of lightning in the lower ionosphere through heating, ionization, optical emissions, dissociative attachment, and most recently, associative detachment [Luque and Gordillo-Vázquez, 2011; Liu, 2011; Neubert et al., 2011]. In this paper we use the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) model of Marshall [2012] to calculate wave propagation and nonlinear effects due to lightning and VLF transmitters. The EMP model is a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model designed to simulate lightning discharges but is easily modified to simulate a sinusoidal source from a small dipole (similar to a ground-based VLF transmitter). Details on the model formulation can be found in Marshall [2012]. Crucial to this application, the model is cast in spherical coordinates, which inherently accounts for Earth curvature. Arbitrary and inhomogeneous ionosphere, neutral atmosphere, magnetic fields, and ground parameters (conductivity and permittivity) can be included in the model. We calculate nonlinear effects (heating and ionization) in the ionosphere differently for VLF transmitters and for lightning, for reasons that will be explained presently. For lightning, the electron mobility, ionization, attachment, and optical excitation rates are calculated as a function of electric field using BOLSIG+ [Hagelaar and Pitchford, 2005]; the detachment rate is calculated from equation (17) of Neubert et al. [2011]. Figure 1 of Marshall [2012] shows the rates used, which scale with neutral density, as a function of electric field. The electron mobility is then inversely related to the electron-neutral collision frequency by νen = qe∕(μeme). The rates are precalculated using BOLSIG+ as a function of electric field and neutral density, so that application in the model is implemented with lookup table interpolation. This method is perfectly valid for either VLF transmitters or lightning, as long as the electron distribution can be assumed to be stationary, which was shown to be true on time scales longer than ∼2 μs by Glukhov and Inan [1996]; this is clearly valid for VLF transmitters operating in the tens of kHz and for most lightning sferics, which have measured rise times of 3−4 μs. However, in our method for calculating the electron mobility, which follows the method of Pasko et al. [1997], we threshold the mobility to a maximum value of 1....

    [...]

  • ...A. (2014), Effect of self-absorption on attenuation of lightning and transmitter signals in the lower ionosphere, J....

    [...]

  • ...A simpler solution is to use a time-domain method that self-consistently updates the electron-neutral collision frequency and electron density during the wave propagation. Self-consistent models of the lightning-ionosphere interaction have existed for some time, beginning with the 1-D formulation of Taranenko et al. [1993a, 1993b]. Two-dimensional and 3-D models have been developed in recent years [Cho and Rycroft, 2001; Nagano et al., 2003; Marshall et al., 2010] and have assessed the chemical effects of lightning in the lower ionosphere through heating, ionization, optical emissions, dissociative attachment, and most recently, associative detachment [Luque and Gordillo-Vázquez, 2011; Liu, 2011; Neubert et al., 2011]. In this paper we use the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) model of Marshall [2012] to calculate wave propagation and nonlinear effects due to lightning and VLF transmitters. The EMP model is a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) model designed to simulate lightning discharges but is easily modified to simulate a sinusoidal source from a small dipole (similar to a ground-based VLF transmitter). Details on the model formulation can be found in Marshall [2012]. Crucial to this application, the model is cast in spherical coordinates, which inherently accounts for Earth curvature. Arbitrary and inhomogeneous ionosphere, neutral atmosphere, magnetic fields, and ground parameters (conductivity and permittivity) can be included in the model. We calculate nonlinear effects (heating and ionization) in the ionosphere differently for VLF transmitters and for lightning, for reasons that will be explained presently. For lightning, the electron mobility, ionization, attachment, and optical excitation rates are calculated as a function of electric field using BOLSIG+ [Hagelaar and Pitchford, 2005]; the detachment rate is calculated from equation (17) of Neubert et al. [2011]. Figure 1 of Marshall [2012] shows the rates used, which scale with neutral density, as a function of electric field. The electron mobility is then inversely related to the electron-neutral collision frequency by νen = qe∕(μeme). The rates are precalculated using BOLSIG+ as a function of electric field and neutral density, so that application in the model is implemented with lookup table interpolation. This method is perfectly valid for either VLF transmitters or lightning, as long as the electron distribution can be assumed to be stationary, which was shown to be true on time scales longer than ∼2 μs by Glukhov and Inan [1996]; this is clearly valid for VLF transmitters operating in the tens of kHz and for most lightning sferics, which have measured rise times of 3−4 μs. However, in our method for calculating the electron mobility, which follows the method of Pasko et al. [1997], we threshold the mobility to a maximum value of 1.4856 N∕N0 m2/V/s at low electric fields (modified slightly from the value in Pasko et al. [1997], thanks to updated calculations using BOLSIG+), in order to match the results of BOLSIG+ at higher field values to the maximum mobility at E = 0....

    [...]

Book
28 Jun 2010
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a model of lightning and its effects in the atmosphere and the distant lightning electromagnetic environment: atmospherics, Schumann resonances and whistlers.
Abstract: Preface 1. Introduction 2. Incidence of lightning 3. Electrical structure of lightning-producing clouds 4. Downward negative lightning discharges to ground 5. Positive and bipolar lightning discharges to ground 6. Upward lightning initiated by ground-based objects 7. Artificial initiation (triggering) of lightning by ground-based activity 8. Winter lightning in Japan 9. Cloud discharges 10. Lightning and airborne vehicles 11. Thunder 12. Modelling of lightning processes 13. The distant lightning electromagnetic environment: atmospherics, Schumann resonances and whistlers 14. Lightning effects in the middle and upper atmosphere 15. Lightning effects on the chemistry of the atmosphere 16. Extraterrestrial lightning 17. Lightning locating systems 18. Deleterious effects of lightning and protective techniques 19. Lightning hazards to humans and animals 20. Ball lightning, bead lightning, and other unusual discharges Appendix. books on lightning and related subjects Subjects Index.

1,715 citations

Book
01 Jun 1965

1,047 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) is the de facto international standard for the climatological specification of ionospheric parameters and as such it is currently undergoing registration as Technical Specification (TS) of the International Standardization Organization (ISO) as discussed by the authors.

1,029 citations


"Effect of self‐absorption on attenu..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...For all simulations discussed in this paper, we use an International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) model [Bilitza and Reinisch, 2008], computed for 1 January 2011 at midnight local time, 40◦N, 100◦W. (Note that in this paper we restrict our investigation to nighttime propagation; the high electron…...

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