Relation between VLF phase deviations and solar X-ray fluxes during solar flares

Abstract

Sudden phase anomalies (SPA's) observed in the phase of GBR 16 kHz VLF signals during the years 1977 to 1983 have been analysed in the light of their associated solar X-ray fluxes in the 0.5–4 A and 1–8 A bands. An attempt has been made to investigate the solar zenith angle (χ) dependence of the integrated solar X-ray flux for producing SPA's. It is deduced from the observations for χ < 81° that the phase deviation increases linearly as a whole with increasing solar X-ray fluxes in these two bands. The threshold X-ray flux needed to produce a detectable SPA effect has been estimated to be 1.6 × 10−4 ergcm−2 s−1 and 1.8 × 10−3 ergcm−2 s−1 in the 0.5–4 A and 1–8 A bands, respectively. For both bands the average cross section for all atmospheric constituents at a height of 70 km is almost equal to the absorption cross section for the 3 A X-ray emission.