Remote sensing of the ignorosphere: Need for a complete earth-ionosphere radio wave propagation model
01 Jan 2018-Vol. 53, pp 527-543
TL;DR: In this article, a short review on retrieval mechanism of the D-region ionospheric plasma using sub-ionospheric VLF/LF data is presented, where the authors discuss importance of VLFs/LFs observation techniques and significant earth-ionosphere propagation models to diagnose electron-ion distribution in the lower ionosphere.
Abstract: We present a short review on retrieval mechanism of the D-region ionospheric plasma using sub-ionospheric VLF/LF data. First, we discuss importance of VLF/LF observation techniques and significant earth-ionosphere propagation models to diagnose electron-ion distribution in the lower ionosphere. Then we discuss about VLF/LF perturbations due to different geophysical phenomena and corresponding numerical simulations applied to retrieve the state of the D-region ionosphere.
Citations
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01 Jul 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of the total solar eclipse on the VLF signal were investigated using the knowledge of the lower ionospheric chemical and physical properties, which is not well studied till date.
Abstract: The variation in the solar Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) radiation flux by any measure is the most dominant natural source to produce perturbations or modulations in the ionospheric chemical and plasma properties. A solar eclipse, though a very rare phenomenon, is similarly bound to produce a significant short time effect on the local ionospheric properties. The influence of the ionizing solar flux reduction during a solar eclipse on the lower ionosphere or, more precisely, the D-region, can be studied with the observation of Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio wave signal modulation. The interpretation of such an effect on VLF signals requires a knowledge of the D-region ion chemistry, which is not well studied till date. Dominant parameters which govern the ion chemistry, such as the recombination coefficients, are poorly known. The occurrence of events such as a solar eclipse provides us with an excellent opportunity to investigate the accuracy of our knowledge of the chemical condition in this part of Earth’s atmosphere and the properties which control the ionospheric stability under such disturbances. In this paper, using existing knowledge of the lower ionospheric chemical and physical properties we carry out an interpretation of the effects obtained during the total solar eclipse of 22 of July 2009 on the VLF signal. Data obtained from a week long campaign conducted by the Indian Centre for Space Physics (ICSP) over the Indian subcontinent has been used for this purpose. Both positive and negative amplitude changes during the eclipse were observed along various receiver locations. In this paper, data for a propagation path between a Indian Navy VLF transmitter named VTX3 and a pair of receivers in India are used. We start from the observed solar flux during the eclipse and calculate the ionization during the whole time span over most of the influenced region in a range of height. We incorporate a D-region ion-chemistry model to find the equilibrium ion density over the region and employ the LWPC code to find the VLF signal amplitude. To tackle the uncertainty in the values of the recombination coefficients we explore a range of values in the chemical evolution model. We achieve two goals by this exercise: First, we have been able to reproduce the trends, if not the exact signal variation, of the VLF signal modulations during a solar eclipse at two different receiving stations with sufficient accuracy purely from theoretical modeling, and second our knowledge of some of the D-region ion-chemistry parameters is now improved.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the D-region ionospheric disturbances due to the tropical cyclone Fani over the Indian Ocean have been analyzed using Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio communication signals from three transmitters (VTX, NWC and JJI) received at two low latitude stations (Kolkata-CUB and Cooch Behar-CHB).
Abstract: The D-region ionospheric disturbances due to the tropical cyclone Fani over the Indian Ocean have been analysed using Very Low Frequency (VLF) radio communication signals from three transmitters (VTX, NWC and JJI) received at two low latitude stations (Kolkata-CUB and Cooch Behar-CHB). The cyclone Fani formed from a depression on 26th April, 2019 over the Bay of Bengal (Northeastern part of the Indian Ocean) and turned into an extremely severe cyclone with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 250 km/h on 2 May, 2019 which made landfall on 3 May, 2019. Out of six propagation paths, five propagation paths, except the JJI-CHB which was far away from the cyclone track, showed strong perturbations beyond 3 σ level compared to unperturbed signals. Consistent good correlations of VLF signal perturbations with the wind speed and cyclone pressure have been seen for both the receiving stations. Computations of radio signal perturbations at CUB and CHB using the Long Wave Propagation Capability (LWPC) code revealed a Gaussian perturbation in the D-region ionosphere. Analysis of atmospheric temperature at different layers from the NASA’s TIMED satellite revealed a cooling effect near the tropopause and warming effects near the stratopause and upper mesosphere regions on 3 May, 2019. This study shows that the cyclone Fani perturbed the whole atmosphere, from troposphere to ionosphere and the VLF waves responded to the disturbances in the conductivity profiles of the lower ionosphere.
7 citations
01 Dec 2006
TL;DR: In this article, a new class of early/fast VLF events with recoveries of up to 20 min was introduced, much longer than typical Early/fast and Lightning-induced Electron Precipitation (LEP) events which recover to pre-event levels in ≲200 s.
Abstract: [1] We introduce a new class of Early/fast VLF events with recoveries of up to 20 min, much longer than typical Early/fast and Lightning-induced Electron Precipitation (LEP) events which recover to pre-event levels in ≲200 s. Three distinct types of long recovery events are observed, each exhibiting different characteristics, with the observed features of at least some of the event types consistent with the possibility of persistent ionization at altitudes below 60 km as put forth by Lehtinen and Inan (2007).
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reported disturbance in the mid-latitude sub-ionospheric VLF radio signals due to the super geomagnetic storm which began on 17 March 2015.
Abstract: This paper reports disturbance in the mid-latitude sub-ionospheric VLF radio signals due to the super geomagnetic storm which began on 17 March 2015. Narrow-band signals from the NAA transmitter are studied for the storm period recorded at eight mid-latitude receiving stations spread over the Europe and USA. Daytime signals amplitude at all places showed a disturbing pattern after 17 March. Fluctuation in the nighttime signals significantly increased in the succeeding nights. As a primary effect of the storm, the entire diurnal signals in the transoceanic west to east long propagation paths enhanced by 3–5 dB, which gradually decreased over the period of ~ 10 days following the storm recovery. A different behavior was observed in the east to west short propagation paths over the landmass, where during the peak storm the daily variations of the VLF amplitude reduced to 20–25% of a normal day and, after ~ 10 days the signals returned to the pre-storm condition. Modeling of the radio waves in the west to east paths shows that the D-region electron density was increased by ~ 8-fold and varied up to 10 days. Electron density variations in the D-region closely follows the variations of precipitated electron flux as observed by the POES satellite over the region. The elevated electron density in the D-region ionosphere caused by the extension of the auroral precipitation to the mid-latitudes along with interference among the various waveguide modes in the earth-ionosphere waveguide during the storm is suggested for the cause of observed VLF signals behaviors.
3 citations
References
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TL;DR: In this article, a method for determining electron density and collision frequency distributions in the lower ionosphere from VLF and LF sounder data is presented, where error limits are placed on the distributions by mapping the standard errors of the data into error limits on the ionosphere parameters.
Abstract: A method is given for determining electron-density and collision-frequency distributions in the lower ionosphere from VLF and LF sounder data. Error limits are placed on the distributions by mapping the standard errors of the data into error limits on the ionosphere parameters. Interpretation of the error limits is discussed, especially in regard to the relationship between the resolution of a distribution and its error band. Examples are given that illustrate the method.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a VLF propagation and a D-region aeronomy model have been used to predict the effect of two solar eclipses on VF propagation to Aztec, Arizona.
Abstract: A VLF propagation and a D-region aeronomy model have been used to predict the effect of two solar eclipses on VLF propagation to Aztec, Arizona. Transmissions at 12.2 kHz from Hawaii were monitored during the eclipse on September 11, 1969; and transmissions at 12.0 kHz from Trinidad, at 24 kHz from transmitter NBA, at 12.5 kHz from Forestport, New York, and at 17.8 kHz from transmitter NAA were monitored during the eclipse on March 7, 1970. The VLF phase predictions were found to agree with measurements except for the two nearly coincident northerly paths from Forestport and NAA.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented some VLF data from a short, high-latitude path recorded during a stratospheric warming event in February 1969 and concluded that no large changes in D-region electron density occurred over North Norway during the event.
Abstract: This note presents some VLF data from a short, high-latitude path recorded during a stratospheric warming event in February 1969. Based on ionosonde data and VLF results it is concluded that no large changes in D-region electron density occurred over North Norway during the event. The VLF observations, showing daytime phase retardation and constant amplitude during the stratwarm, can be explained by assuming a height increase of 3 km for the atmosphere at VLF reflection levels (about 60 km). Height data for constant-pressure levels in the stratosphere make such an assumption reasonable.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a technique for calculating an estimate of the lower ionospheric electron density profile from a knowledge of the VLF radio wave reflection coefficients is studied, and the conditions of success of this technique are discussed in detail.
Abstract: A technique for calculating an estimate of the lower ionospheric electron density profile from a knowledge of the VLF radio wave reflection coefficients is studied. The conditions of success of this technique are discussed in detail. Numerical simulation of this method has been carried out on the basis of a full wave calculation. It was confirmed that the deduced profile converged well to the specified profile after only a few iterations. Some numerical results are presented.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a survey for measuring field strengths at 40 and 60 kHz was carried out in the winter months of 2004 to estimate the service area of the standard frequency and time signals.
Abstract: [1] A nationwide survey for measuring field strengths at 40 and 60 kHz was carried out in the winter months of 2004 to estimate the service area of the standard frequency and time signals. The data obtained were analyzed in comparison with the resultant field strengths of sky waves and the ground wave which were predicted using a method developed by one of the authors. Good agreement was seen between the measured and predicted field strengths.
6 citations