We present first report on the periodic wave-like signatures (WLS) in the D region ionosphere during 22 July 2009 total solar eclipse using JJI, Japan, very low frequency (VLF) navigational transmitter signal (22.2 kHz) observations at stations, Allahabad, Varanasi and Nainital in Indian Sector, Busan in Korea, and Suva in Fiji. The signal amplitude increased on 22 July by about 6 and 7 dB at Allahabad and Varanasi and decreased by about 2.7, 3.5, and 0.5 dB at Nainital, Busan, and Suva, respectively, as compared to 24 July 2009 (normal day). The increase/decrease in the amplitude can be understood in terms of modal interference at the sites of modes converted at the discontinuity created by the eclipse intercepting the different transmitter-receiver great circle paths. The wavelet analysis shows the presence of WLS of period~16-40 min at stations under total eclipse and of period~30-80 min at stations under partial eclipse (~85-54% totality) with delay times between~50 and 100 min at different stations. The intensity of WLS was maximum for paths in the partially eclipsed region and minimum in the fully eclipsed region. The features of WLS on eclipse day seem almost similar to WLS observed in the nighttime of normal days (e.g., 24 July 2009). The WLS could be generated by sudden cutoff of the photo-ionization creating nighttime like conditions in the D region ionosphere and solar eclipse induced gravity waves coming to ionosphere from below and above. The present observations shed additional light on the current understanding of gravity waves induced D region ionospheric perturbations.
The response of the D region low-latitude ionosphere has been examined for extreme space weather event of 14-16 December 2006 associated with a X1.5 solar flare and an intense geomagnetic storm (Dst = À146 nT) using VLF signals from Northwest Cape, Australia (NWC) (19.8 kHz) and Lualualei, Hawaii (callsign NPM) (21.4 kHz) transmitters monitored at Suva (Geographic Coordinates, 18.10°S, 178.40°E), Fiji. Modeling of flare associated amplitude and phase enhancements of NWC (3.6 dB, 223°) and NPM (5 dB, 153°) using Long-Wave Propagation Capability code shows reduction in the D region reflection height (H′) by 11.1 km and 9.4 km, and enhancement in ionization gradients described by increases in the exponential sharpness factor ( β) by 0.122 and 0.126 km À1, for the NWC and NPM paths, respectively. During the storm the daytime signal strengths of the NWC and NPM signals were reduced by 3.2 dB on 15 and 16 December (for about 46 h) and recovered by 17 December. Modeling for the NWC path shows that storm time values of H′ and β were reduced by 1.2 km and 0.06 km À1, respectively. Morlet wavelet analysis of signal amplitudes shows no clearly strong signatures of gravity wave propagation to low latitudes during the main and recovery phases. The reduction in VLF signal strength is due to increased signal attenuation and absorption by the Earth-ionosphere waveguide due to storm-induced D region ionization changes and hence changes in D region parameters. The long duration of the storm effect results from the slow diffusion of changed composition/ionization at D region altitudes compared with higher altitudes in the ionosphere.
The effects of the solar flares and the geomagnetic storms (disturbance storm time (
[1] First observations of early Very Low Frequency (VLF) perturbations on signals from NWC (19.8 kHz) and NPM (21.4 kHz) monitored at Suva, in the month of November 2006, are presented. The early/fast, early/slow, early/short (RORD), and step-like early VLF perturbations are observed on signals from both the transmitters. The early/fast VLF events are found to occur more often in the nighttime than in the daytime whereas step-like early events predominantly occur in the daytime. Most of the early VLF events are associated with amplitude changes between 0.2-0.8 dB with only a few cases > 0.8 dB. In general, the recovery time of daytime early/fast VLF events is less when compared to the nighttime early/fast VLF events. The lightning location data provided by the World-Wide Lightning Location Network and broadband VLF data recorded at Suva have been analyzed to identify the location of causative lighting discharges along the great circle paths between transmitter and receiver, and the sferics associated with causative lightning of early VLF events. This research is the first to report both daytime early/fast VLF perturbations with faster recovery and also step-like early VLF perturbations initiated and ended by the lightnings which are most likely associated with red sprites and/or elves occurring in the daytime.
We estimate D region changes due to 22 July 2009 total solar eclipse (SE), 13–14 November 2012 total SE, and 9–10 May 2013 annular SE, using VLF navigational transmitters signal observations at Suva, Fiji. The North West Cape (NWC) signal (19.8 kHz) showed an amplitude and phase decrease of 0.70 dB and 23° during November SE and 2.0 dB and 90° during May SE. The modeling using Long Wave Propagation Capability code for NWC‐Suva path during November and May SEs showed an increase in average D region reflection height (H′) and sharpness factor (β) by 0.6 and 0.5 km and 0.012 and 0.015 km−1, respectively. The July total SE for JJI‐Suva path showed an increase in H′ of 1.5 km and a decrease in β of 0.055 km−1. The decrease in the electron density calculated using SE time H′ and β is maximum for July total SE and minimum for May annular SE. The effective recombination coefficient estimated from the decay and recovery of signal phase associated with May annular SE was higher (27%) than normal daytime value 5.0 × 10−7 cm−3 s−1 and varied between 1.47 × 10−6 and 1.15 × 10−7 cm−3 s−1 in the altitude 70 to 80 km. Morlet wavelet analysis of signals amplitude shows strong wave‐like signatures (WLS) associated with three SEs with period ranging 24–66 min, but the intensity and duration of WLS show no clear dependence on SE magnitude and type. Apart from the cooling spot, the eclipse shadow can also generate WLS associated with atmospheric gravity waves.
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