Weather Effects on the D-region Electron Density

Details Weather Effects on the D-region Electron Density Weather Effects on the D-region Electron Density

May 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agusmsa11a..06e&link_type=abstract

American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2009, abstract #SA11A-06

Physics

2494 Instruments And Techniques, 6929 Ionospheric Physics (1240, 2400), 6934 Ionospheric Propagation (0689, 2487, 3285, 4275, 4455), 6994 Instruments And Techniques (1241), 7944 Ionospheric Effects On Radio Waves

Scientific paper

Studies of D-region ionization are complicated by the low electron densities and the altitude range involved. The D-region bottom-side densities are less than 100 cm-3 and the D-region altitudes are inaccessible to most in-situ measurements. Available methods, such as sounding rockets and incoherent scatter radar, can provide detailed profiles for specific times and locations, but mesoscale characterization of D-region weather effects is difficult to obtain. Specifically the horizontal structuring of these densities and to which drivers they are most sensitive is unclear. The response of the D-region to solar inputs, background radiation sources, and wind transport from high latitudes needs to be better understood to improve both our understanding and modeling efforts. The Agile beacon monitor network measures signal strength from radio beacons from three important frequency ranges. The measurements in three frequency ranges, VLF (3-30kHz), LF (30-300 kHz), and HF (0.3-30 MHz), cooperatively help define the D region more precisely. The daytime D-region is perhaps best known for absorption of frequencies below 30 MHz. Measurements of radio signal absorption are useful in describing the D-region response to solar flares and the winter absorption anomaly. Description of the D- region bottom-side and nighttime D-region density requires a different methodology. VLF and LF propagation analysis is sensitive to densities in the 0.1 to 10 cm-3 range. Networks of receivers over these frequency ranges provide an approach for observing the horizontal spatial distribution of the lower D-region density. The D-region electron densities may be inferred by interpreting signal levels at VLF, LF, and HF using D-region models and propagation analysis. This paper describes how the model electron density profiles are modified to include weather effects. Variations are observed in day and night data even during the quietest solar conditions; some variations are consistent with atmospheric gravity wave and planetary wave scales.

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