Adv. Space Res. Vol. 25, No. I, pp.

33-42, 2000
Pergamon 0 1909 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Printed in Great Britain
0279. I 177100 $20.00 + 0.00
www.~lsevier.nl/locateiRsr
PII: SO273- I 177(‘)9)008‘J4-7

ELECTRON DENSITY PROFILES IN THE IONOSPHERIC D-

REGION ESTIMATED FROM MF RADIO WAVE ABSORPTION

I. Nagano’ and T. Okada’

‘Depurtment oj’Electricu1 urd Computer Engineering, Kunuxwu Universit?; Kur~uzuwu 920-8667 Japan,
‘Depurtment of Electrotlics utld Ir!formatic.s, Toyumu Prqfecturul University, Kosugi, Toyama 939-0398
Jupun

ABSTRACT

Electron density measurements in the lower ionosphere were carried out more than 6 times during the
period from 1975 to 1992 by using sounding rockets launched at KSC (Kagoshima Space Center in
Japan). Low electron densities were estimated from the absorption of the characteristic mode of ground-
based radio signals (17.4 kHz and 873 kHz) in the lower ionosphere measured by onboard receivers. Two
kind of methods, i.e., VLF mode absorption and MF absorption methods were developed to estimate the
D-region electron density by comparing the observed wave intensity with that calculated by a full wave
treatment. In this paper, both absorption methods are introduced paying attention to the capability of low
electron density measurement. In particular the S-310-18 rocket experiment is discussed in detail, in
which the D-region electron density profile derived from the altitude variation of MF radio wave
intensity is presented. Finally the lower ionospheric electron density profiles so far measured by those
method at mid-latitude in Japan are compared with those of the IRI-95 model.
0199~ COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.

1. INTRODUCTION

In-situ measurement of the electron density in Japan was first made by a method to measure a resonant
frequency of the impedance between two electrodes (Oya et ul., 1966). This technique was adopted as a
standard method to measure the electron density in the ionosphere for almost all sounding rocket
experiments at KSC (Oya et ul., 1969) and it became well-known as the gyro-plasma probe (GPP) which
covers the electron density above IO” els/cc. On the other hand, the electron density was calculated from
the doppler shift frequency of the MF or VLF radio wave propagating from the ground-based transmitter
(Maeda et ul, 1964 and Kimura et ul., 1967). In this VLF doppler experiment, Kimura was successful
separate the characteristic modes of the VLF wave such as L and R (left- and right- handed circular

33
 34 I. Nagano and T. Okada

polarized waves) modes independently in the observed spectrum, and indicated that the L mode
disappears at a specific low electron density. Nagano et al. developed an apparatus to separate the right-
and left-handed circularly polarized waves by rotating the receiving antenna electrically, which enabled
them to estimate the low electron density in the lower ionosphere (Nagano et ~1.. 1976 and 1978).
Furthermore, by comparing the observed R mode intensity with the corresponding field calculated by the
full wave method, the electron density around the altitude of 70 km in the daytime was estimated
(Nagano ef ul., 1981). The electron density estimated by this VLF mode absorption ranges from 5 els/cc
to lO’els/cc within an error of + 15%. On the other hand, in order to detect the small scale variation of
the electron density in the D-region a MF radio wave was used in the daytime by S-310-18 rocket. The
electron density profile was obtained by comparing the observed wave intensity with the MF radio wave
absorption calculated by the generalized full wave method under the assumption that the collision
frequency is proportional to the atmospheric pressure. The onboard instrument to measure the MF radio
wave becomes relatively simple compared with that of VLF R and L mode waves. In this paper we will
focus on the MF radio absorption method to obtain the D-region electron density. Finally the electron
density profiles in the lower ionosphere obtained by these VLF and MF radio wave methods during 20
years in Japan are compared with those of the International Reference Ionosphere model revised in 1995
(IRI-95).

2. EXPERIMENTS

The S-3 10-l 8 sounding rocket was launched at 1 I:00 JST on January 26,1988 at an elevation angle of 78
degrees at Kagoshima Space Center (13 1.04E. 3l.lSN, in Geographic coordinate system) by ISAS
(Institute of Space and Astronautical Science). The rocket went up to an apogee of 202 km at 223 sec.
and reached 210 km horizontally in the direction 30 degrees measured anti-clockwise from South, at 430
sec. after firing. We observed a VLF signal NDT (17.4kHz, 200KW) transmitted from Yosami’ground-
based station (137.OIE, 34.36N) near Nagoya and a MF radio wave (873kHz, SOOKW) from NHK
Kumamoto broadcasting station (130.SOE, 30.SON) in both ascending and descending flights, in order to
NAZAKI JJ Y 8MHz

Fig.1 Propagation paths of radio waves from ground-based stations to the S-310-18 rocket.

estimate the D-region electron density during the daytime. Figure 1 shows the trajectory of the rocket and
ray paths of the received signals from the ground-based transmitters. In this rocket experiment, a wide-
 D-Region from Radio Wave Absorption 35

band loop antenna system was tested by receiving the JJY 8MHz signal (Okada and Nagano, 1990).

Figure 2 shows the block diagram of the wave instruments onboard the rocket. A triangular-shaped loop
antenna with an area of 0.106 m’ was used to detect the NDT signal at 17.4kHz and the MF radio wave at
873 kHz. The loop antenna is coupled with two low-noise amplifiers through a series transformer
network to respond widely up to 1MHz. The effective length of the loop system including the
preamplifier with 20 dB gain are 24 cm at 17.4kHz and 22 cm at 873kHz.

wave ohservatlon The loop antenna was deployed at an altitude of 58 km at 45 sec. after launch.
However, the loop antenna with an area of 78 cm2 held inside the nose fairing could detect the MF radio
wave from the instant of the launch because the nose fairing of the rocket was made of a dielectric
material. The intensity profile of the wave observed during the ascent flight is shown in Fig.3. The
envelope of the wave intensity increases gradually with increasing altitude up to 20 km. This is due to a
diffraction effect from the mountains located on the ray path from the transmitter to the rocket. The
intensity remains almost constant up to 65 km and then it tends to decrease gradually up to 87 km. This
attenuation is due to collisional damping in the D region. The envelope is seen to be modulated with an
intensity variation exceeding about 30 dB at altitudes below 70 km. The modulation frequency is 4 Hz,

Fig.2 A block diagram of the wave receiver on board the S-310-18 rocket.

which is just twice the rocket spinning frequency of 2 Hz below SO km, and decreases to 2 Hz by
despinning of the rocket. It is confirmed by the depth of modulation that the wave polarization is
changing from linear to elliptical at an abitude of 70 km. The wave is perfectly reflected at 88km and the
intensity decreases abruptly because of the evanescent mode at higher altitudes. The intensified
amplitude at the reflection level is clearly seen in Figure 3. This seems to be a focusing effect appearing
at the reflection point in an inhomogeneous medium. The pitch and shape of the modulation of the
intensity are also distorted in the area of a few km below the reflection level. This is due to the
 36 1. Nagano and T. Okdda

collisional damping of the downgoing wave.

80

0
20 40 60 .80 1
Field intensity(dBp)

Fig.3 An altitude profile of magnetic field intensity of the MF radio wave

at 873 kHz measured during the rocket ascent (OdBp=lpV/m).

3. ESTIMATION OF D-REGION ELECTRON DENSITY

..
v ornti The absorption of the wave propagating in the lower
ionosphere depends on both electron density and collision frequency. It is difficult to estimate the
electron density at any altitude only from absorption of the radio wave because of the absorption
integrated over the path of wave propagation in the ionosphere. It is well-known that the collision
frequency in the lower ionosphere is theoretically proportional to the atmospheric pressure (Sen and
Wyller, 1960). We adopt this theory for the collision frequency to calculate the wave intensity in the
lower ionosphere. In this case, collision frequency v,, between the neutral molecules and mono-energetic
electrons with energy kTe, where k is Boltzman’s constant and Te is the electron temperature, can be
expressed by the equation v,,= K,, x 10” P. Here P is atmospheric pressure and K, is called the collision
proportional factor, which can be calculated theoretically to be 6.3, by using the momentum transfer
cross section of neutral particles observed in laboratory experiments, and the CIRA model as an
atmospheric pressure model (Thrane and Piggott, 1966). In this paper, we use an empirical value of K, to
analyze the MF radio wave in plice of the theoretical value of K,,. The empirical K, is estimated by
using both electron density and VLF wave intensity observed above the altitude of 85 km by the same
rocket. We compare the wave absorption of the NDT signal at 17.4kHz in the altitude range from 85 km
to 95 km with the corresponding absorption calculated by the generalized full wave method using the
electron density observed simultaneously by the gyro-plasma probe (GPP) onboard the same rocket. The
K, thus estimated is 4.4 above 85 km when the calculated absorption fits the observed one. This
procedure corresponds to the first step in the flow chart shown in Figure 4. Though K, is reported to
decrease slightly with decreasing altitude, we use it as a constant in the lower ionosphere in this paper.
The intensity of the MF radio wave can be calculated by using the generalized full wave calculation
 D-Region from Radio Wave Absorption 37

Observed data
I
Estimation of Electron density
collision frequency above 85 km
“, = 4.4 x IO’P
P = CIRA model VLF intensity
above 85 km
4
Initial electron
density profile N I

Final electron density profile

Fig.4 A flow chart for the procedure to estimate an electron density profile.

taking account of the electron energy dependent collision frequency, which is different from the effective
collision frequency appearing in the Appleton-Hartree formula. Then the electron density profile is
calculated by the procedure outlined in Figure 4. Namely, we first estimate an initial electron density
profile using the absorption of the observed MF wave, and modify it until the altitude variation of the
calculated absorption fits best to the observed one, and then get a final electron density profile.

. . . .
L The initial electron density profile is determined by
letting the observed absorption rate of the MF wave at any altitude fit the corresponding calculated value.
The attenuation rate per 1 km of the MF wave for a specified electron density at any altitude is calculated
by the generalized full wave calculation with various kinds of ionospheric models shown in Figure 5 and
the collision frequency discussed in the previous section. The attenuation rates of the up-going horizontal
magnetic component are calculated every 1 km from the altitude of 6Skm up to 90km as shown in Figure
6. On the other hand, we can get the observed absorption rate at any altitude by taking a maximum value
in one spin from Figure 3. Then we can obtain an initial electron density profile from 65 km up to near
the reflection altitude as shown by the dots in Figure 7. On the basis of the procedure shown in Figure 4.
the initial electron density profile is modified iteratively until the observed wave intensity profile is in
good agreement with the calculated one in the altitude range from 65 km to near the reflection height.
Thus, we can get the final electron density profile indicated by the solid line as shown in Figure 7. The
profile indicated by the broken line in this figure is explained in the next chapter. It is interesting to note
that a distinct peak in the initial slope in the D-region appears at 71km. The density is almost constant at
800 els/cc up to 8Skm and increases abruptly near the reflection altitude and then connects to the electron
density profile indicated by the broken line obtained by the GPP method onboard the same rocket. The
depression in the electron density that appears around 73 km corresponds to the similar dip in the wave
 1. Nagano and T. Okada

Co1 1 ision frequency &Iz)

1
I
- -

Elecrtron density (l/cc) Electron densi ty(I/cc)

Fig3 Altitude profiles of electron Fig.6 Relationship between attenuation

density and collision frequency used to of wave magnetic field and electron
evaluate the attenuation of up-going density at several altitudes over KSC for
waves. the MF radio wave from NHK
Kumamoto station.

95 /

901 \ /” I

ld ld 103 104 16
hbgnetic field intensity(dB)
Electron density(l/cc)

Fig.7 Altitude profiles of collision Fig.8 An altitude profile of wave

frequency (u,,) and estimated electron magnetic field intensity calculated by a
density (N): The dashed curve over generalized full wave method with the
90km is the profile measured with the estimated density profile shown in
GPP technique. The error bars represent Figure 7. The dotted line shows the
the variation in the estimated profile profile actually measured by the rocket.
when the collision frequency is changed
by f30%. The density profile shown in
the chain line is estimated from the
attenuation rates for the incident angle
of the wave changing with altitude.
 D-Region from Radio Wave Absorption 39

intensity. Note that this small scale variation of the wave intensity is never generated by the effect of
rocket attitude and the instantaneous variation of the gain of the wave receiver. The comparison between
the observed wave intensity and the intensity calculated from the final electron density profile is shown
in Figure 8. As is seen, the calculated resultant wave (solid line), which does not include the spinning
effect of the antenna, shows the standing wave pattern consisting of the up- and down- going waves
above 75 km. It implies that damping of the up-going wave is less than that of the down-going wave. This
effect can not be proved by the Appleton-Hartree formula. In fact Figure 9 shows the characteristic
modes (up and down of L and R modes corresponding to Booker roots) separated independently from the
resultant waves. No reflection from the D-region is recognized in the MF radio frequency. There is
slightly a difference between the calculated and the observed intensity profiles in the range where
standing wave of the calculated intensity appears above the altitude of 75 km as shown in the Figure 8.
This is because the spin effect was not taken into account in the calculation. Figure 10 shows the
comparison between the observed and the calculated intensity including the effect of spin. The calculated
intensity modulated by the rocket spin agrees almost perfectly with the observations, especially near the
reflection height.
95

90 i

85

40 -30 40 -io
hifignelic field inlensitykll3)

Fig.9 Altitude profiles of characteristics Fig.10 An altitude profile of wave

mode (L and R for right- and left- magnetic field intensity with spinning
handed polarized modes, and up and motion of the rocket taken into account.
down for up- and down-going modes).

4. EVALUATION OF THE ESTIMATION ERRORS

In estimating the electron density based on the procedure as shown in Figure 4, the following factors may
cause errors:
(1) The parameters except the incident angle shown in Table I used in the full wave calculation
(2) Ambiguity of the collision frequency (CIRA mode is used as a pressure profile)
(3) Plane wave approximation
As for the item (l), these values are fixed by the geographical conditions between locations of the rocket
and transmitter, so that they will not cause any serious error to the electron density. Errors which may be
caused by the item (2) and (3) must be evaluated. We evaluated the effect of f 30% changes in the
atmospheric pressure on the collision frequency over the entire altitude. The corresponding variation
40 1. Nagano and T. Okada

ranges of the estimated electron density are indicated by the error bars in Figure 7. Since in fact there is
no big variation in local time and day, the pressure model adopted from ClRA is considered to be valid.
The incident angle of the wave from the transmitter to the
Table 1. Parameters used in a generalized
lower ionosphere significantly affects the intensity of the
full wave calculation
___--_____----____-_~~~~_--~~~~_~--~~~~ wave in the ionosphere. The incident angle decreases from
72” to 68” with increasing altitude of the rocket. We take
Gyro-frequency 1.2MHz
the average value of the incident angle to calculate the
Dip angle 43”
wave intensity in the ionosphere. The intensity at the
Azimuthal angle 176.6”
reflection level varies fS dB for +3” deviation from the
Incident angle 69.6”
averaged value of the incident angle. This variation is not
Frequency 873kHz
negligible, so that we have to calculate wave intensity at
__________-_______--~~~~_---~~~~~----~~
any altitude with the corresponding incident angle. In this
case, the estimated electron density is indicated by
a broken line in Figure 7. The error of the electron density we estimated by the MF absorption is finally
evaluated to be within the range from -20% to +30%.

S.COMPARISON OF THE ELECTRON DENSITY PROFILES MEASURED AT KSC WITH

THAT CALCULATED BY IRI-95

Table 2 shows a list of the D-region electron density experiments so far carried out at KSC by using the
radio absorption methods, including the case of S-310-18. This table shows the date, zenith angle,
sunspot number and the method of experiments. The experiments were carried out over 1.5 solar cycle.
All electron density profiles obtained by the experiments shown in Table 2 are plotted together in Figure
11. The electron density profile for the descending flight of the S-3 lo-18 is added in this figure. The
bottom of the D- region electron density for the descent flight is clearly shifted downwards by about 2
km. Figure 12 shows the comparison between the observed electron densities with those of the IRI-95 at

Table 2. Conditions when D-region electron density experiments were carried out

ROCKET K-9M-53 1 S-210-11 K-9M-67 1 K-9M-72 1 S-310-18 1 S-310-21

Date Aug. 26 Aug. 11 Oct. 18 Feb. 11 Jan. 26 Jan. 28
1975 1976 1979 1982 1988 1992
Time (JST) 19:45 19:lS 16:OO 11 :oo 11 :oo 2l:OO
Zenith angle 10s 94 68 54 54 134
Solar F10.7
84 80 237 136 94 231
cm flux
Sunspot
number 16 23 224 46 44 187

Wave 40 kHz 40 kHz 17.4 kHz 17.4 kHz 17.4 kHz 17.4 kHz
Frequency 17.4 kHz 8 MHz 873 kHz 873 kHz
Polarization 0 0 0 0

Method VLF VLF VLF VLF ,MF MF

 D-Region from Radio Wave Absorption 41

the launch site for the corresponding solar activities. We can roughly state that the IRI-95 model for low
solar activity is in good agreement with the measurement of the D-region electron density in Japan.
However for the high solar activity the IRI model electron density in day time is significantly smaller
than the observation and in night time slightly larger.

80

Electron Density [els/cc]

Fig. 11 Altitude profiles of electron density estimated from wave measurements in

several rocket experiments: The dashed lines show the profiles measured with the
GPP method.

Fig. 12 Comparison of the estimated electron density profiles with

the international reference ionosphere (IRI-95) model.

6. SUMMARY

We have introduced the measurements of the D-region electron density by the radio wave absorption
42 1. Nagano and T. Okada

methods which were developed in Japan. Especially the MF absorption method was discussed in detail
from the viewpoint of the estimated error. Since the ground- based VLF transmitters for OMEGA
navigation signals and the NDT signal for communication with the ships on the sea have been dismantled,
the MF absorption method becomes important for in-situ measurements of the D-region electron density.
The electron density in the lower ionosphere in the daytime estimated by the MF absorption method is
from 10 els/cc up to more than lO’els/cc. It is also a merit that the receiver and the antenna on board
rockets for MF radio waves are very simple. The comparison between the D-region profiles obtained
during 20 years and the IRI-95 version were made. As a result, a large difference has been found between
the IRI-95 model and the density profile observed in day time for high solar activity, however the model
was in fairly good agreement with the observed one for low solar activity.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

These experiments were carried out with the full cooperation of the rocket group of ISAS. We wish to
thank emeritus Professor I. Kimura of Kyoto University, emeritus Professor M. Mambo of Kanazawa
University and Professor K. Oyama of ISAS for their continual advice and encouragement.

REFERENCES

Kimura, I., R. Nishina, and K. Maeda, Rocket observations of the night time ionosphere using the VLF
doppler technique, Spcice Res. III, pp.3053 13, 1967
Maeda, K., T. Obayashi, I. Kimura, H. Oya, and T. Ogawa, Rocket observation of the ionosphere by
means of the doppler technique, Rept. lortos. Space Res., Jprt, 18, 329-344, 1964
Nagano, I, M. Mambo, and G. Hutatsuishi, Numerical calculation of electromagnetic waves in isotropic
multi-layerd medium, Radio Sci., 10,6 11-6 17, 1975
Nagano, I., M. Mambo, and I. Kimura, The electron density profile in the lower ionosphere derived from
a rocket measurement of VLF propagation modes, IECE of Japan, E-59,6-7, 1976
Nagano, I., M. Mambo, and I. Kimura, Rocket measurement of lower ionosphere electron density by
propagation characteristics of VLF waves, Plurlet Spuce Sci., 26, 219-227, 1978
Nagano, I., M. Mambo, T. Fukami, K. Namba, and 1. Kimura, Estimation of electron density profile in the
D region from rocket measurement of VLF signals from a ground based transmitter, Electronics and
Communications in Japan, 64-B, 68-74, 198 1
Okada, T., and I. Nagano, Rocket experiment of VLF and MF radio wave measurement by using a single
loop antenna, IEICE o.f’Jupaw, E-73, 237-244, 1990
Oya, H., and T. Obayashi, Measurement of ionospheric electron density by a gyro-plasma probe: A rocket
experiment by a new impedance probe, Rep.Ionos.Space Res. Jpn. 20, 199-213, 1966
Oya, H., Development of gyro-plasma probe. in Small Rocket Instrumentation Techniques, pp.36-46,
North-Holland, New York, 1969
Thrane, E. V., and W. R. Piggott, The collision frequency in the E- and D regions of the ionosphere, J.
Atmos Terr. Phys., 28, 72 1, 196 1