Searching for effects caused by thunderstorms in midlatitude sporadic E layers

TL;DR

This study investigates the potential influence of thunderstorms on sporadic E layers in the ionosphere, using multi-instrument observations during two thunderstorms in 2013 and 2014, and finds possible thunderstorm-induced disruptions in Es layer activity.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence of thunderstorm effects on Es layers, highlighting the potential for thunderstorm-induced ionospheric disturbances and the need for further case studies.

Findings

Es layer activity was reduced during thunderstorms.

Critical frequency foEs dropped below detection levels.

Thunderstorm activity may influence ionospheric layers.

Abstract

Possible thunderstorm - sporadic E (Es) layer coupling effects are investigated during two measurement periods, one in 2013 and one in 2014. The analysis was based on ionospheric observations obtained from a Digisonde at Pruhonice, the Czech Republic, an ionosonde at Nagycenk, Hungary, and a 3.59 MHz five-point continuous HF Doppler system located in the western part of the Czech Republic. The latter is capable of detecting ionospheric wave-like variations caused by neutral atmospheric waves generated by thunderstorms. The present study searches for possible impacts on Es layers caused by the presence of two active thunderstorms: one passing across the Czech Republic on June 20, 2013 (19:00 - 01:00 LT), and one through Hungary on July 30, 2014 (11:00 - 01:00 LT). During these two time periods, presence and parameters of Es layer were inferred from ionograms, recorded every minute at Pruhonice and every two minutes at Nagycenk, whereas concurrent lightning activity was monitored by the LINET detection network. In addition, transient luminous events (TLEs) were also observed during both nights from Sopron, Hungary and from Nydek, the Czech Republic. A noticeable fact was the reduction and disappearance of the ongoing Es layer activity during part of the time in both of the traversing thunderstorms. The analysis indicated that the critical frequency foEs dropped below ionosonde detection levels in both cases, possibly because of thunderstorm activity effects. This option, however, needs more case studies in order to be further substantiated.