Study of the morphology of the low-latitude D region ionosphere using the method of tweeks observed at Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak

Le Minh Tan*, Nguyen Ngoc Thu, Tran Quoc Ha, Nguyen Thi Thao Tuyen
Author affiliations

Authors

  • Le Minh Tan* Faculty of Natural Science and Technology, Tay Nguyen University
  • Nguyen Ngoc Thu Geophysical Center, South Vietnam Geological Mapping Division
  • Tran Quoc Ha Ho Chi Minh City University of Education
  • Nguyen Thi Thao Tuyen Department of Geophysics, Ho Chi Minh city Uiniversity of Science

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/0866-7187/38/4/8794

Keywords:

The morphology of the D-region ionosphere, tweek, reflection height, reference height, electron density gradient

Abstract

Tweek is the electromagnetic waves at Extremely Low Frequency (3 - 3000 Hz) and Very Low Frequency (3-
30 kHz) bands, which originates from lightning discharges and propagates about thousands of kilometers in the Earth-Ionosphere waveguide. Recording the tweeks with a maximum up to eighth harmonics using the receiver installed at Tay Nguyen University (12.65oN, 108.02oE), Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak, during January - June 2013, we have studied the morphology of the low-latitude D region ionosphere in the nighttime. The occurrence of  tweeks with mode number m = 2 - 3 is more dominant. Tweeks with higher modes (m ≥ 4) appear less than other tweeks due to the higher attenuation of wave energy for higher modes reflected at the ionospheric D region. The results show that electron density varies from 25.1-189.4 cm-3, corresponding to the tweeks with m = 1-8 at the reflection height from 82.2-86.5 km. The reference height h’ and electron density gradient β are higher during summer seasons as compared to those during winter and equinox seasons. The mean values of h’ and β are 82.5 km and 0.53 km-1, respectively. The electron density using the tweek method is lower by about 11-38 % than those obtained using the IRI-
2012 model.

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Published

20-10-2016

How to Cite

Tan*, L. M., Thu, N. N., Ha, T. Q., & Tuyen, N. T. T. (2016). Study of the morphology of the low-latitude D region ionosphere using the method of tweeks observed at Buon Ma Thuot, Dak Lak. Vietnam Journal of Earth Sciences, 38(4), 327–338. https://doi.org/10.15625/0866-7187/38/4/8794

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