The response of thunderstorm VLF radio noise to solar activity according to observations in Yakutsk

Abstract

The relation between the long-term variations in the thunderstorm VLF radio noise intensity and solar activity in 1979–2006 has been studied. The sunspot number (the Wolf number) was used as a parameter characterizing solar activity. The intensity of VLF noise registered in Yakutsk characterizes thunderstorm activity in Eastern Siberia (0100–0500 UT) and in the African thunderstorm center (1300–1700 UT). Using the results of a correlation analysis, it has been found that thunderstorm activity in Eastern Siberia and in the African world centre is in antiphase with a change in the sunspot number. The highest anticorrelation coefficients between solar activity and thunderstorm discharge intensity were obtained for thunderstorms in Eastern Siberia. In this case the maximal correlation coefficients (R = −0.59 and −0.75) were obtained for the average monthly values of the VLF radio noise intensity in August, measured at 0400 UT and 1600 UT, respectively.