KEYWORDS: X-rays, Solar processes, Ionization, Solar radiation models, Atmospheric sciences, Atmospheric physics, Mesosphere, Solar energy, Atmospheric modeling, 3D modeling
Contemporary 3D dynamical atmosphere models include the mesosphere as an essential element of simulation framework. Though thousands of elementary chemical processes are included as well as horizontal and vertical transport processes the quality of models is unsatisfied from the radiowave propagation point of view. Below we consider additional physical mechanism to be included in simulation. It is of solar-terrestrial links nature, namely the background processes caused by X-rays, hard X-rays and gamma rays fluxes from Sun. The reanalysis of satellite data proves that within the period of high solar activity the aforementioned fluxes exceed the C- are level in a continuous manner. We present the satellite evidence and compare the present ionizing block with additional data from solar radiation.
The contemporary study of the global change of the atmosphere raise up the problem of models verification, namely, we need the quantified metric to compare models. One of such simple approach is to use the evidence on VLF-LF propagation under the X-ray solar flares. Any flare impacts on the middle atmosphere up to 60 km altitude. Its signature in amplitude record is clear and identifiable. We have a variety of radio paths and any season (or even year of solar cycle) in database. All aforementioned arguments make the strong basis for the model check. The response of the lower ionosphere and middle atmosphere to a solar flare depends on the quality of the source term definition and on the correctness of the chemical processes description. Different approaches are known for the derivation of X-ray excess ionization, varying from classic approach1 to huge Monte Carlo simulations.2 We elaborated the numerical model which is combined from an empirical model of ionization (GOES X-ray measurements) and numerical VLF propagation code.3 It successfully reproduced the first phase of the lower ionosphere response to the extremely strong solar X-flare (X9.9) September 06, 2017. Meanwhile, the decay phase was overestimated. Thus we decided to improve the ionosphere model and compare our model with other popular ionization schemes under the flares of various class. Moreover, all ionospheric models under analysis were realised in two modes: the standard mode with constant chemical rates and in the swarm mode with rates dependence on the altitude and ionization rate. The latter have been received in 70-s from complex kinetic simulations of the high altitude nuclear explosion impact on the ionosphere.4 We expected the improvement of results for intense flares and we wanted to check the quality of contemporary and old ionosphere models on the modern data. The results prove that (a) all models failed under empirical model of ionization; (b) the most promising model is IDG5 in swarm mode; (c) the problem of the minor neutrals is overestimated.
The empirical models of the lower ionosphere are used for fast prediction of VLF-LF propagation properties, for the initialization in the inverse problem solvers and as a climatological testbed for new numerical models. We used two widely used empirical models and verify them on the experimental VLF data from Mikhnevo geophysical observatory for 2014 year. Numerical results were obtained by parabolic equation method. The presented results prove the severe limitations of the current empirical models. The main bottlenecks are formulated.
KEYWORDS: Solar radiation models, Solar processes, Ionization, Transmitters, Numerical simulations, X-rays, Data modeling, Monte Carlo methods, Physics
The progress in the physics and chemistry of the lower ionosphere depends on the verification of the numerical models on the experimental data. We establish the framework, that the lower ionosphere model can be considered as a valid one, only if the prediction for the VLF-LF radiowave propagation coincides with evidence both in amplitude and phase temporal dynamics. The extremely strong X-flares 06 and 10 September 2017 were chosen as a testbed for the empirical and theoretical models of the midlatitude lower ionosphere. Both models used GOES-15 X-ray flux measurements. Empirical model captures only the time moment of disturbance. Theoretical model captures the main feature in VLF response. We summarize the observed problems in simulation and prospective solutions as well.
We present the results of the analysis for the GOES-15 and SDO satellites data under the extra strong solar X-class flares X9.3 September 06 2017 and X8.2 September 10 2017. It is shown that X9.3 flare was accompanied by the significant increasing of the UV flux and by the growth of the extremely hard X-ray part of the spectrum. The evidence from ionosondes, GPS receiver and Schumann resonance monitoring has shown different response to these neighbor flares. The flare classification based on the peak flux value is not sufficient for the geophysical applications. The interpretation of the ionosphere response requires the full spectrum analysis.
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