Equivalent electron densities at reflection heights of tweek atmospherics in the low-middle latitude D-region ionosphere

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  • Ohya H.
    Department of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University
  • Nishino M.
    Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University
  • Murayama Y.
    Communications Research Laboratory
  • Igarashi K.
    Communications Research Laboratory

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Abstract

Tweek atmospherics are ELF/VLF pulse signals with frequency dispersion characteristics that originate from lightning discharges and propagate in the Earth-ionosphere waveguide mode over long distances. In this paper, we estimate equivalent nighttime electron densities at reflection heights in D-region ionosphere at low-middle latitudes by accurately reading the first-order mode cut-off frequency of tweek atmospherics. The estimation method was applied to tweek atmospherics received simultaneously at Moshiri and Kagoshima in Japan. Equivalent electron densities ranged from 20-28 el./cm3 at ionospheric reflection heights of 80-85 km. Comparing our estimates with electron density profiles obtained from the IRI-95 model, MF radar measurements, and rocket experiments revealed almost consistent results for the lower part of the D-region ionosphere. The tweek method has the unique advantage of enabling reflection-height (equivalent electron densities) monitoring over a wide area of several thousand kilometers.

Journal

  • Earth, Planets and Space

    Earth, Planets and Space 55 (10), 627-635, 2003

    Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences, The Seismological Society of Japan, The Volcanological Society of Japan , The Geodetic Society of Japan , The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences

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