Features of artificial ULF/VLF signals induced by SURA facility under increased solar activity conditions
Abstract
It was conducted a comprehensive study of artificial ionospheric signal generation in the ULF/VLF bands at SURA facility during the past four years. We investigated the influence of geomagnetic activity on the characteristics of artificial low-frequency signals in recent years under the background of increasing solar activity. No correlation with variations of Earth's magnetic field was observed for weak geomagnetic disturbances (Kp < 3). It was observed decreasing in the amplitude of signals at frequencies of 3 and 6 Hz, while the VLF signals at frequencies of 2 and 2.6 kHz increased for growth phase of the geomagnetic field perturbations during a small magnetic storms October 7, 2011 (Ki = 4 according to Moscow station). A similar pattern was traced in 2013 during storms March 21 (Kp = 5), May 24-25 (Kp = 5 +) and August 16 (Kp = 5 +). There are two possible reasons for the observed dependence - increasing the absorption of HF and VLF waves in the lower ionosphere, and / or reduction of the critical frequency of the F-layer, usually accompanied by a magnetic storm. The last factor is perhaps the most likely. This dependence was traced more convincingly on May 24-25, when during a storm time SURE had operated from evening until 6:00 MST in the morning. Signal amplitude explicitly followed the F- layer critical frequency variation. Some of the measurements in June 2012 were conducted during a magnetic storm on June 16-18, (Kp = 6). It was also found a decrease in the amplitude of the signal at the rise of the magnetic disturbance. In addition, during the daytime session 18.06.2012 during the recovery phase, it was detected modulation of artificial signals at frequencies 11 and 17 Hz with a period of 30 seconds. Note that the period of 30s is the main period of oscillation of the geomagnetic field line passing through the SURA facility, and more, the periods for torsional and the toroidal oscillation modes of this field line surprising coincidence for SURA geomagnetic latitude. Also the peculiarities were displayed in the polarization of artificial VLF signals during magnetic storms. Typically, the artificial emission is elliptically polarized at all frequencies of VLF signals with a predominance of the left- polarization. During a storm time, it was detected a change in the polarization of artificial VLF emissions. The right polarization becomes predominant. This fact can be associated with changes in ionospheric plasma parameters under a magnetic storm conditions. This work was supported by RFBR grants 13-02-0072 and 13-02-12074.
- Publication:
-
40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly
- Pub Date:
- 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014cosp...40E1598K