A comparative study of measured amplitude and phase perturbations of VLF and LF radio signals induced by solar flares

Abstract: Very Low Frequency, VLF and Low Frequency, LF signal perturbations were examined to study ionospheric disturbances induced by solar X-ray flares. The aim was to understand processes in propagation VLF/LF radio signals over short paths, and to estimate specific characteristics of each short path. The receiver at Belgrade station continuously monitor the amplitude and phase of coherent and subionospherically propagating LF signal operated in Sicily, NSC at 45.90, kHz and VLF signal operated in Isola di Tavolara ICV at 20.27 kHz, with great circle distances of 953 km and 976 km, respectively. Geographical locations of transmitters and receiver site result that these short paths have many similarity. The main difference is in transmitter frequencies. In period from 2008 to February 2014 were selected around 200 events for further examination. In all selected examples amplitude and phase on VLF and LF signals were perturbed by occurrence of solar X-ray flares. This six years period covers minimum and maximum of solar activity. Also, simultaneous measurement of amplitude and phase on the VLF/LF signals during occurrence of solar flare were employed for constructing electron density profile versus altitude and also in a function of time over middle Europe.