Experimental daytime VLF ionospheric parameters

Abstract

Measured field strengths from VLF transmitters are used to determine improved daytime values of ionospheric parameters to enable improved VLF propagation predictions. These parameters are the traditional H′ (height in km) and β (sharpness in km −1) as used by Wait and by NOSC in their Earthionosphere waveguide computer program. They are found by comparing the predictions of the NOSC program with the observed VLF field strengths over both long and short paths. Experimental observations from two nearly north-south paths are used to determine the solar zenith angle dependence of both H′ and β for low latitude (or summer mid-latitude) conditions. These results are then used to predict the daytime variations in VLF field strengths with solar zenith angle (and hence time) on other suitable paths and good agreement is found with measurements made on these paths. The absolute value of β for overhead Sun is found to be 0.45 km −1 and is principally determined by the attenuation on the very long, west to east, fully sunlit, 14.4 Mm path from NWC (Australia, 22°S) to San Francisco (37°N), after applying small corrections for the solar zenith angle variations along the path at midday. Further support is obtained from results from the 8.6 Mm path NDT (Japan) to San Francisco, an 8.2 Mm path NPM (Hawaii) to New Zealand, and an east to west 7.5 Mm path from NPM to Townsville, Australia. The conditions studied are solar maximum. The frequencies studied are 15–30 kHz.