Estimation of the lower ionosphere ionization caused by X-class solar
flares, based on VLF observations
Abstract
We present the results of the analysis of the measurements data of
amplitudes and phases of signals from GQD (19.58 kHz) and GBZ (22.1 kHz)
VLF transmitters in the geophysical observatory of IDG RAS “Mikhnevo”
(GO MIK) to assess the impact of solar flares of different classes that
occurred in June 2014 on the height profile of the electronic
concentration $Ne$ in the lower ionosphere. The use of two-channel
data from the GOES satellite (0.05-0.4 nm and 0.1-0.8 nm) allowed us to
estimate the fluxes of X-rays in harder spectral ranges. The analysis of
the dynamics of the $Ne$ height profile and X-ray fluxes in different
wavelength ranges allowed us to estimate the ionization and
recombination rates and determine the spectral ranges of radiation that
have the greatest influence on the dynamics of the electron
concentration at considered heights.