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

Earth, Planets and Space volume 55, pages 627–635 (2003)Cite this article

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba, 263-8522, Japan

    H. Ohya

  2. Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University, Toyokawa, 442-8507, Japan

    M. Nishino

  3. Communications Research Laboratory, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8759, Japan

    Y. Murayama & K. Igarashi

Authors
  1. H. Ohya
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  2. M. Nishino
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  3. Y. Murayama
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  4. K. Igarashi
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Correspondence to H. Ohya.

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Ohya, H., Nishino, M., Murayama, Y. et al. Equivalent electron densities at reflection heights of tweek atmospherics in the low-middle latitude D-region ionosphere. Earth Planet Sp 55, 627–635 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352469

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