Study of the solar flares effect on VLF radio signal propagating along NRK‐ALG path using LWPC code

Abstract

AbstractThe X‐ray solar flare emissions penetrate down into the D region of the ionosphere (60–90 km of altitude) and affect the propagating very low frequency (VLF) radio signal. In this paper, we will present the effect of the solar flares on the signal mode composition of the NRK‐ALG path during the period from 2007 to 2013. In the Long Wave Propagating Capability (LWPC) code theory, the VLF signal is a sum of discrete modes that propagate to the receiver with different attenuation coefficients. Therefore, an interest is given to the behavior of these coefficients under solar flares. Effectively, from the simulation, we give more explanations about the role of the signal mode composition on the fading displacement since this later is a consequence of the destructive modes interferences. Thus, the sign (positive or negative) of the perturbed signal parameters (amplitude and phase) is found to be depending on the distance between the transmitter and the receiver. Finally, we give the Wait parameters and the electron density variations as a function of solar flares.