Spring‐fall asymmetry in VLF amplitudes recorded in the North Atlantic region: The fall‐effect

Macotela, E.L.; Clilverd, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7388-1529; Renkwitz, T.; Chau, J.; Manninen, J.; Banyś, D.. 2021 Spring‐fall asymmetry in VLF amplitudes recorded in the North Atlantic region: The fall‐effect. Geophysical Research Letters, 48 (16), e2021GL094581. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094581

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Official URL: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.102...

Abstract/Summary

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 parameters analyzed 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.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094581
ISSN:	0094-8276
Additional Keywords:	D-region, VLF propagation, mesospheric temperature, semidiurnal solar tide, VLF signal absorption
Date made live:	30 Jul 2021 12:51 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530840

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL094581

ISSN:

0094-8276

Additional Keywords:

D-region, VLF propagation, mesospheric temperature, semidiurnal solar tide, VLF signal absorption

Date made live:

30 Jul 2021 12:51 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/530840