Title
Spring-Fall Asymmetry in VLF Amplitudes Recorded in the North Atlantic Region: The Fall-Effect
Date Issued
28 August 2021
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
University of Rostock
Publisher(s)
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Abstract
A spring-fall asymmetry is observed in daytime amplitude values of very low frequency (VLF) radio wave signals propagating over the North Atlantic during 2011–2019. We explore the processes behind this asymmetry by comparing against mesospheric mean temperatures and the semidiurnal solar tide (S2) in mesospheric winds. The solar radiation influence on VLF subionospheric propagation was removed from the daytime VLF amplitude values, isolating the fall-effect. Similarly, the symmetric background level was removed from mesospheric mean temperatures undertaking comparable analysis. During fall, all three analyzed parameters experience significant deviation from their background levels. The VLF amplitude variation during spring is explained by the seasonal variation in solar illumination conditions, while the fall-effect can be interpreted as a mean zonal wind reversal associated with both a S2 enhancement, and temperature reductions. Decreases in temperature can produce decreases in collision frequency, reducing VLF signal absorption, driving the observed VLF asymmetry.
Volume
48
Issue
16
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Geoquímica, Geofísica
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85113579398
Source
Geophysical Research Letters
ISSN of the container
00948276
Source funding
UK Research and Innovation
Sponsor(s)
This work is supported by "AMELIE ‐ Analysis of the MEsosphere and Lower Ionosphere fall Effect" (DLR project D/921/67286532). The authors thank Alexander Kozlovsky for providing his insights for this research work, in particular for looking mesospheric temperature data. MAC would like to acknowledge support from the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI‐NERC) through National Capability Space Weather Observatory funding (NC‐SS SWO). Open access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus