Numerical Simulations Of The Effect Of Localised Ionospheric Perturbations On Subionospheric VLF Propagation

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulations to study how localized ionospheric disturbances, caused by lightning-induced electron precipitation, affect the amplitude and phase of subionospheric VLF signals, revealing the scattering effects in the earth-ionosphere waveguide.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the impact of lightning-induced electron precipitation events on VLF signal propagation through numerical simulations.

Findings

Lightning-induced electron precipitation causes measurable changes in VLF signal amplitude and phase.

Localized ionospheric perturbations significantly scatter VLF waves in the earth-ionosphere waveguide.

The study enhances understanding of ionospheric disturbances on radio wave propagation.

Abstract

Electron density and temperature changes in the D-region of the ionosphere are sensitively manifested as changes in the amplitude and phase of subionospheric Very Low Frequency (VLF) signals propagating beneath the perturbed region. Disturbances (either in electron density or temperature) in the D region cause significant scattering of VLF waves propagating in the earth-ionosphere waveguide, leading to measurable changes in the amplitude and phase of the VLF waves. We analyze Lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) events during period 2008 - 2009 at Belgrade station on subionospheric VLF signals from four transmitters (DHO/23.4 kHz, Germany; GQD/22.1 kHz, UK; NAA/24.0 kHz USA and ICV/20.9 kHz Italy).