Changes of the first Schumann resonance frequency during relativistic solar proton precipitation in the 6 November 1997 event

Abstract

The variations of the first mode of Schumann resonance are analyzed using data from Kola peninsula stations during the solar proton event of 6 November 1997. On this day the intensive flux of energetic protons on GOES-8 and the 10% increase of the count rate of the neutron monitor in Apatity between 1220 and 2000 UT were preceded by a solar X-ray burst at 1155 UT. This burst was accompanied by a simultaneous increase of the Schumann frequency by 3.5%, and the relativistic proton flux increase was accompanied by 1% frequency decrease. These effects are explained by changes of the height and dielectric permeability of the Earth-ionosphere cavity.Key words. Ionosphere (ionospheric disturbances; solar radiation and cosmic ray effects) · Radio science (ionospheric propagation)