Using the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) to study Very
Low Frequency transmission in the Earth-Ionosphere Waveguide: 2. Model
test by patterns of detection/non-detection
Abstract
This is the second half of a two-part study. In the first part, we had
used the World Wide Lightning Location Network’s recorded signal
amplitudes to test a model of Very Low Frequency signal transmission
from the lightning to each sensor. The model predicts a dramatic
worsening of transmission at low magnetic latitudes, for nighttime
propagation (compared to daytime propagation) toward magnetic West.
However, we found that the use of amplitudes was ill-adapted for testing
the model under conditions of a deep outage of transmission. Since the
relative weakening of nighttime transmission is rather
counter-intuitive, we have now developed an alternative approach to
testing that model prediction. This alternative approach highlights the
patterns of detection/non-detection of several low-magnetic-latitude
WWLLN stations and compares those patterns with the appropriate patterns
of the model transmission.