Abstract
This paper presents the results of modeling the lower ionosphere
response to solar X-ray flares of C-, M- and X-classes. The model is
based on a 5-component scheme of the ionization-recombination cycle of
the ionospheric D-region. Input parameters of the plasma-chemical model
under different heliogeophysical conditions corresponding to selected
X-ray flares were determined by using data received from AURA, SDO and
GOES satellites. Verification of the obtained results was carried out
with use of ground-based radiophysical measurements taken at the
geophysical observatory Mikhnevo. Results of comparing the calculated
and experimental the radio wave amplitude variations along six European
very low frequency (VLF) paths show that the root mean square error
(RMSE) does not exceed 1.5 dB for ~70% of cases
including X-class flares during which the amplitude jump on some paths
reaches 8 dB. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the verification
results of the VLF signal amplitude has showed the good predictive
capability of the built model for describing weak and moderate
ionospheric disturbances.