Abstract
Many analyses of the perturbed ionospheric D-region and its influence on the propagation of ground-based and satellite signals are based on data obtained in ionospheric remote sensing by very low/low frequency (VLF/LF) signals. One of the most significant causes of errors in these analyses is the lack of data related to the analysed area and time period preceding the considered perturbation. In this paper, we examine the influence of the estimation of the quiet ionosphere parameters on the determination of the electron density (Ne) and total electron content in the D-region (TECD) during the influence of a solar X-ray flare. We present a new procedure in which parameters describing the quiet ionosphere are calculated based on observations of the analysed area by a VLF/LF signal at the observed time. The developed procedure is an upgrade of the quiet ionospheric D-region (QIonDR) model that allows for a more precise analysis of the D-region intensively perturbed by a solar X-ray flare. The presented procedure is applied to data obtained in ionospheric remote sensing by the DHO signal emitted in Germany and received in Serbia during 30 solar X-ray flares. We give analytical expressions for the dependencies of the analysed parameters on the X-ray flux maximum at the times of the X-ray flux maximum and the most intense D-region perturbation. The results show that the obtained Ne and TECD are larger than in the cases when the usual constant values of the quiet ionosphere parameters are used.
Highlights
In addition to the importance of ionospheric D-region modelling in scientific studies, knowledge of properties of this atmospheric layer is necessary for the analysis of the electromagnetic signal propagation
Many analyses of the perturbed ionospheric D-region and its influence on the propagation of ground-based and satellite signals are based on data obtained in ionospheric remote sensing by very low/low frequency (VLF/LF) signals
The developed procedure is an upgrade of the quiet ionospheric D-region (QIonDR) model that allows for a more precise analysis of the D-region intensively perturbed by a solar X-ray flare
Summary
In addition to the importance of ionospheric D-region modelling in scientific studies (see, for example, [1,2,3,4,5,6]), knowledge of properties of this atmospheric layer is necessary for the analysis of the electromagnetic signal propagation. The two main reasons for this are: (1) the global system for these observations consists of numerous worldwide distributed transmitters and receivers, ensuring good coverage of the lower ionosphere, and (2) data are recorded continuously with the possibility of time sampling of only a few milliseconds, which allows the detection of sudden and short-term variations. This technique requires a large distance between a transmitter and a receiver that is a minimum of several hundred kilometres.
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