Signature of burst particle precipitation on VLF signals propagating in the Antarctic earth-ionosphere waveguide

Journal Article · Thu Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1991 · Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/91JA01794· OSTI ID:5694833

Cotton, P D ^[1]; Smith, A J ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of Sheffield (United Kingdom)
2. Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge (United Kingdom)

The burst precipitation of energetic electrons ({ge} 40 keV), induced by interactions with lightning-generated whistler mode waves, has been observed to cause phase and amplitude perturbations on subionospheric VLF signals (Trimpi events). With a knowledge of the propagation characteristics of the subionospheric signal, analysis of the perturbation details can lead to estimates of the energy, extent, and location of the precipitation. Trimpi events have been observed on VLF signals propagating at high latitudes (L {ge} 4) over Antarctica, on 3.79-kHz signals as they propagate from Siple toward VLF receivers at Halley and South Pole stations. To simulate the effects of precipitation, localized depressions in the ionospheric reflection height are introduced over the great circle propagation paths in the model, and it is seen that, while the amplitude (up to 6 dB) Trimpi events at Halley cannot be reproduced. Calculations are presented which show that signals echoing from precipitation patches located away from the great circle path could be the cause of such signatures.

• OSTI ID: 5694833
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research; (United States) Vol. 96:A11; ISSN 0148-0227; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

661320* -- Auroral
Ionospheric
& Magnetospheric Phenomena-- (1992-)
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLITUDES
ANTARCTIC REGIONS
ANTARCTICA
CHARGED-PARTICLE PRECIPITATION
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
DIMENSIONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON PRECIPITATION
HEIGHT
INTERACTIONS
IONOSPHERE
LIGHTNING
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
NOISE
PLANETARY IONOSPHERES
POLAR REGIONS
RADIATIONS
RADIO NOISE
RADIOWAVE RADIATION
REFLECTION
VIRTUAL HEIGHT
WAVE PROPAGATION
WAVEGUIDES
WHISTLERS