Probing the D-region ionosphere globally with Earth Networks Total Lightning Network data

Journal Article · 26 September 2024 · Advances in Space Research

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2024.09.049 · OSTI ID:2458181

Lay, Erin Hoffmann  ^[1]; Hudson, Emily Rose  ^[1]; Markowski, Danielle Giuseppa ^[1]; Shao, Xuan-Min  ^[1]; Anderson, Todd Shelby  ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

An existing technique to use broadband lightning waveforms to probe the D-region ionosphere (60–90 km altitude) is shown to be extendable to a global scale using the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN). This paper demonstrates the technique in detail on a region of the Southeastern United States. This demonstration shows that diurnal D-region height variation and smaller time-scale variations on the order of tens of minutes to hours are evident in the measurement. The technique is then extended to three additional global regions on this same day: Northeastern U.S., India, and Japan. The diurnal behavior between these different regions is compared to a D-region model from the International Reference Ionosphere.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001
• OSTI ID: 2458181
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--24-24933
• Journal Information: Advances in Space Research, Journal Name: Advances in Space Research; ISSN 0273-1177
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English