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Abstract We demonstrate a methodology for utilizing measurements from very low frequency (VLF, 3−30 kHz) transmitters and lightning emissions to produce 3D lower electron density maps, and apply it to multiple geophysical disturbances. The D‐region lower ionosphere (60−90 km) forms the upper boundary of the Earth‐ionosphere waveguide which allows VLF radio waves to propagate to global distances. Measurements of these signals have, in many prior studies, been used to infer path‐average electron density profiles within the D region. Historically, researchers have focused on either measurements of VLF transmitters or radio atmospherics (sferics) from lightning. In this work, we build on recently published methods for each and present a method to unify the two approaches via tomography. The output of the tomographic inversion produces maps of electron density over a large portion of the United States and Gulf of Mexico. To illustrate the benefits of this unified approach, daytime and nighttime maps are compared between a sferic‐only model and the new approach suggested here. We apply the model to characterize two geophysical disturbances: solar flares and lower ionospheric changes associated with thunderstorms.
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This content will become publicly available on March 1, 2026
Effect of Ground Conductivity on VLF Wave Propagation
Abstract Very Low Frequency (VLF, 3–30 kHz) waves propagate long distances in the waveguide formed by the Earth and the lower ionosphere. External sources such as solar flares and lightning discharges perturb the upper waveguide boundary and thereby modify the waves propagating within it. Therefore, studying the propagation of VLF waves within the waveguide enables us to probe the ionospheric response to external forcing. However, the wave propagation also depends on the lower waveguide boundary property, that is, the path conductivity. We tackle two main questions: how accurate should the path conductivity description be to obtain a given accuracy on the ionospheric electron density? Are the currently available ground‐conductivity maps accurate enough? The impact of the ground conductivity values and their spatial extension on VLF wave propagation is studied through modeling with the Longwave Mode Propagator code. First, we show that knowledge of the path conductivity value should be more accurate as the ground conductivity decreases, in particular in regions where S/m. Second, we find that wave propagation is strongly sensitive to the spatial extension of ground conductivity path segments: segments of a few tens of km should be included in the path description to maintain below 50% the error on the derived electron density due to the path description. These results highlight the need for an update of the ground conductivity maps, to get better spatial resolution, more accurate values, and an estimate of the time‐variability of each region.
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- PAR ID:
- 10582678
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Radio Science
- Volume:
- 60
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0048-6604
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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