Estimation of enhanced electron density in the lower ionosphere using correlation between natural VLF emission intensity and CNA

Abstract

In this study, we suggest a new remote sensing technique for enhanced electron density in the lower ionosphere by using the correlation between VLF whistler mode waves (daytime chorus emissions) and CNA, both observed on the ground. The ionospheric attenuations for VLF whistler mode and HF waves (as a CNA value) are calculated by using full-wave analysis to evaluate their correlations for various ionospheric electron density profiles enhanced by precipitating electrons. The calculation results show negative correlations between CNA and VLF whistler mode waves in accordance with the observation results. Then, the gradient of the negative correlation becomes larger with decreasing altitude of maximum electron density. Thus, we found that the correlation provides information on the vertical profile of the enhanced electron density in the lower ionosphere caused by electron precipitation. This allows the study of electron precipitation in the daytime, in addition to Trimpi events at nighttime.