Correlation between variability in the VLF band Francisco Morazan and solar activity

Abstract

In this document, we will discuss the correlation between solar flares and Sudden Ionospheric Disturbances (SID), which were measure using the variability in the intensity of radio waves in the band of Very Low Frequency (VLF) reflected and refracted in the D layer of the ionosphere and monitored outside of Tegucigalpa, in February of 2014.

With this in mind we build two distinct configurations which allow us to ensure quality in the data recollection phase. The first system is a UKRAA VLF receiver (United Kingdom Radioastronomy Association) with a bandwidth of 12 to 35 kHz and an output in volts that represent the oscillations in the frequency of 24 kHz NAA Cutler Maine. The last system takes advantage of Software Defined Radio (SDR) concepts which, without complex electronic hardware, analyze the VLF Signals using a modern sound card with an analog to digital converter for the data reception in 40.8 kHz transmitted by the NAU in Aguada Puerto Rico. This equipment and a facility in the suburbs of Tegucigalpa make possible the detection of solar flares using de ionosphere.

Revista Ciencias Espaciales, Vol.6(1) 2013, 24-42