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VLF heating of the lower ionosphere
Author(s) -
Inan Umran S.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl017i006p00729
Subject(s) - ionosphere , lightning (connector) , transmitter , geophysics , very low frequency , absorption (acoustics) , collision frequency , energy (signal processing) , ionospheric absorption , physics , radio wave , geology , atmospheric sciences , power (physics) , plasma , acoustics , telecommunications , astronomy , channel (broadcasting) , quantum mechanics , computer science
A controlled wave‐injection experiment with a 28.5 kHz transmitter having a radiated power of 100 kW has revealed evidence of ionospheric heating by the VLF waves. Calculations indicate that the observed effect can be attributed to the absorption of wave energy in the lower ionosphere, which is estimated to result in a 30% enhancement in the collision frequency at 85 km. This process also represents a new means of direct coupling of lightning energy to the lower ionosphere.