Numerical Simulations Of The Effect Of Localised Ionospheric Perturbations On Subionospheric VLF 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).