Wave-induced burst precipitation events detected with a digital ionosonde

Initial results are presented from two methods whereby burst precipitation events in the lower ionosphere, almost certainly induced by VLF wave‐particle interactions in the magnetosphere, have been detected using a ground‐based digital ionosonde. In the first method, HF echoes are received above the critical frequency of the surrounding plasma; particle energies and the location and extent of the plasma enhancement may be deduced. In the second method, a rapid decrease in the phase of ionospheric echoes is observed due to refractive index changes along the echo path; particle energies, the duration of the precipitation event and the precipitation energy flux can be estimated.