Night-time Sferic Propagation at Frequencies Below 10 KHz

Abstract

Results of a study at Brisbane of individual night-time sferics of known origin are described. A propagation attenuation minimum was observed in the 3-6 kHz range. The geographic distribution of sferic types was also examined. Apparent propagation asynunetries were observed, since sferics were detected at greater ranges to the west than to the east at 10 kHz, whilst the number of tweek-sferics arising from the east was about four times that arising from the west. Comparison with European studies suggest that these asymmetries are general. These results are then " interpreted in terms of an ionospheric reflection cgefficient which is a function of the effective angle of incidence of the wave on the ionosphere and of orientation with respect to the Earth's magnetic field within the ionosphere.