Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station

<p>The goal of this work is to investigate the gravity wave (GW) characteristics in the low ionosphere using very low frequency (VLF) radio signals. The spatial modulations produced by the GWs affect the conditions of the electron density at reflection height of the VLF signals, which produce...

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Main Authors: E. Correia, L. T. M. Raunheitte, J. V. Bageston, D. E. D'Amico
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2020-03-01
Series:Annales Geophysicae
Online Access:https://www.ann-geophys.net/38/385/2020/angeo-38-385-2020.pdf
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author E. Correia
E. Correia
L. T. M. Raunheitte
J. V. Bageston
D. E. D'Amico
author_facet E. Correia
E. Correia
L. T. M. Raunheitte
J. V. Bageston
D. E. D'Amico
author_sort E. Correia
collection DOAJ
description <p>The goal of this work is to investigate the gravity wave (GW) characteristics in the low ionosphere using very low frequency (VLF) radio signals. The spatial modulations produced by the GWs affect the conditions of the electron density at reflection height of the VLF signals, which produce fluctuations of the electrical conductivity in the D region that can be detected as variations in the amplitude and phase of VLF narrowband signals. The analysis considered the VLF signal transmitted from the US Cutler, Maine (NAA) station that was received at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station (EACF, 62.1<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;S, 58.4<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;W), with its great circle path crossing the Drake Passage longitudinally. The wave periods of the GWs detected in the low ionosphere are obtained using the wavelet analysis applied to the VLF amplitude. Here the VLF technique was used as a new aspect for monitoring GW activity. It was validated comparing the wave period and duration properties of one GW event observed simultaneously with a co-located airglow all-sky imager both operating at EACF. The statistical analysis of the seasonal variation of the wave periods detected using VLF technique for 2007 showed that the GW events occurred all observed days, with the waves with a period between 5 and 10&thinsp;min dominating during night hours from May to September, while during daytime hours the waves with a period between 0 and 5&thinsp;min are predominant the whole year and dominate all days from November to April. These results show that VLF technique is a powerful tool to obtain the wave period and duration of GW events in the low ionosphere, with the advantage of being independent of sky conditions, and it can be used during the whole day and year-round.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-471d9432b8c7444591488cac407c52ec2022-12-21T22:53:51ZengCopernicus PublicationsAnnales Geophysicae0992-76891432-05762020-03-013838539410.5194/angeo-38-385-2020Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic StationE. Correia0E. Correia1L. T. M. Raunheitte2J. V. Bageston3D. E. D'Amico4Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, BrazilCentro de Rádio Astronomia e Astrofísica Mackenzie, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCentro de Rádio Astronomia e Astrofísica Mackenzie, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCentro Regional Sul de Pesquisas Espaciais, CRS/INPE, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilCentro de Rádio Astronomia e Astrofísica Mackenzie, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil<p>The goal of this work is to investigate the gravity wave (GW) characteristics in the low ionosphere using very low frequency (VLF) radio signals. The spatial modulations produced by the GWs affect the conditions of the electron density at reflection height of the VLF signals, which produce fluctuations of the electrical conductivity in the D region that can be detected as variations in the amplitude and phase of VLF narrowband signals. The analysis considered the VLF signal transmitted from the US Cutler, Maine (NAA) station that was received at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station (EACF, 62.1<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;S, 58.4<span class="inline-formula"><sup>∘</sup></span>&thinsp;W), with its great circle path crossing the Drake Passage longitudinally. The wave periods of the GWs detected in the low ionosphere are obtained using the wavelet analysis applied to the VLF amplitude. Here the VLF technique was used as a new aspect for monitoring GW activity. It was validated comparing the wave period and duration properties of one GW event observed simultaneously with a co-located airglow all-sky imager both operating at EACF. The statistical analysis of the seasonal variation of the wave periods detected using VLF technique for 2007 showed that the GW events occurred all observed days, with the waves with a period between 5 and 10&thinsp;min dominating during night hours from May to September, while during daytime hours the waves with a period between 0 and 5&thinsp;min are predominant the whole year and dominate all days from November to April. These results show that VLF technique is a powerful tool to obtain the wave period and duration of GW events in the low ionosphere, with the advantage of being independent of sky conditions, and it can be used during the whole day and year-round.</p>https://www.ann-geophys.net/38/385/2020/angeo-38-385-2020.pdf
spellingShingle E. Correia
E. Correia
L. T. M. Raunheitte
J. V. Bageston
D. E. D'Amico
Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
Annales Geophysicae
title Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
title_full Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
title_fullStr Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
title_short Characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at Comandante Ferraz Brazilian Antarctic Station
title_sort characterization of gravity waves in the lower ionosphere using very low frequency observations at comandante ferraz brazilian antarctic station
url https://www.ann-geophys.net/38/385/2020/angeo-38-385-2020.pdf
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AT ltmraunheitte characterizationofgravitywavesinthelowerionosphereusingverylowfrequencyobservationsatcomandanteferrazbrazilianantarcticstation
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