บทคัดย่อIn this paper we confine our attention to the analysis of amplitude and phase data acquired by monitoring VLF/LF radio signals emitted by four European transmitters during a seven-year period (2008–2014). All the data were recorded at a Belgrade site (44.85° N, 20.38° E) by the Stanford University ELF/VLF receiver AWESOME. Propagation of VLF/LF radio signal takes place in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide and strongly depends on ionization level of the D-region, which means that it is mainly controlled by solar conditions. Some results of amplitude and phase variations on GQD/22.10 kHz, DHO/23.40 kHz, ICV/20.27 kHz and NSC/45.90 kHz radio signals measurements at short distances (D<2 Mm) over Central Europe and their interpretation are summarized in this paper. Attention is restricted to regular diurnal, seasonal and solar variations including sunrise and sunset effects on propagation characteristics of four VLF/LF radio signals. We study VLF/LF propagation over short path as a superposition of different number of discrete modes which depends on the variations of the path parameters. Although the solar X-ray flare effects on propagation of VLF/LF radio signals are well recognized on all paths, similarities and differences between them are defined under existing conditions over the paths. Statistical results show that the size of amplitude and phase perturbations on VLF/LF radio signal is in correlation with the intensity of X-ray flux. We present the calculations of electron density enhancements in the D-region caused by different classes of solar X-ray flares during the period of ascending phase and maximum of the solar cycle 24.KeywordsSolar activity; Solar flare response; D-region; VLF; Ionospheric disturbances1. IntroductionThe lowest region of the ionosphere, the D-region, is important as a reflecting layer for the longwave communication and navigation systems. The Very Low Frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) and Low Frequency (LF, 30–300 kHz) bands are below the critical frequencies of the D-region. VLF/LF radio waves from transmitters propagate through waveguide bounded by the Earth’s surface and the D-region. This propagation is stable both in amplitude and phase and has relatively low attenuation. VLF/LF radiation tends to reflect from electron densities (strictly conductivities) at altitudes of 70–75 km during daytime and 80–90 km during nighttime. Also VLF/LF radiation is reflected by the conducting Earth’s surface and this means that the radio waves propagate over Earth trapped between the imperfect mirrors of the ground and the ionosphere (Wait and Spies, 1964 and Mitra, 1974). The effective reflection height depends on the ionization levels of the D-region. The lowest region of the ionosphere (<90 km altitude) is formed during quiet conditions primarily by the action of solar Lyman-α radiation (121.6 nm) on nitric oxide. Daytime electron density in this region is about or less than Ne∼108 m−3. During the nighttime the ionization rate drops and recombination processes continue. Even at night there is a sufficient ionization in the lowest region of ionosphere to affect VLF/LF radio signals (Goodman, 2005 and Kelley, 2009).
A range of dynamic phenomena occur in the D-region and cause diurnal and seasonal variations in connection with solar activity (11-year sunspot cycle). The phenomenon such as solar X-ray flare illuminating the daytime ionosphere induces unpredictable effects that are associated with space weather. When the solar X-ray flares appear, the X-ray fluxes suddenly increase and the ones with the appreciable wavelength below 1 nm are able to penetrate down to the D-region and increase the ionization rate there (Thomson et al., Nov. 2001). A lot of work has been done regarding the correlation between X-ray fluxes and VLF perturbations as well as D-region electron density profile (Thomson, 1993, Thomson et al., Nov. 2001 and Žigman et al., 2007). The changes in the conditions of the D-region at these altitudes cause the changes in the received amplitude and phase at the receiver, allowing us to compare experimental observations of received radio signals with the simulations based upon the predicted changes in the D-region to understand what is happening.
2. Data analysis method
2.1. Description of experimental data
In this paper we confine our attention to the analysis of amplitude and phase data acquired by monitoring VLF/LF radio signals emitted by four European transmitters during a seven-year period (2008–2014). This period covers the ascending phase and maximum of the solar cycle 24. All the data were recorded at a Belgrade site (44.85° N, 20.38° E), Serbia by the Stanford University ELF/VLF Receiver Atmospheric Weather Electromagnetic System for Observation Modeling and Education (AWESOME). Narrowband data can be recorded in a continuous fashion, even in case when as many as 15 transmitters are being monitored (Cohen et al., Jan. 2010).
VLF/LF radio signals received at Belgrad
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