[P-EM12] Dynamics of the Inner Magnetospheric System

[PEM12-P08] Energetic electron precipitations showing ULF modulation observed by VLF/LF transmitter signals

*Tanaka Kentaro¹, Hiroyo Ohya¹, Fuminori Tsuchiya², Kazuo Shiokawa³, Yoshizumi Miyoshi³, Nozomu Nishitani³, Tomoaki Hori³, Mariko Teramoto⁴, Martin G Connors⁵, Simon G Shepherd⁶, Hiroyuki Nakata¹ (1.Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 2.Planetary Plasma and Atmospheric Research Center, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, 3.Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, 4.Kyushu Institute of Technology, 5.Athabasca University, 6.Dartmouth College)

Energetic electron precipitation (EEP; >100 keV) from radiation belts to the D-region ionosphere during substorms has been studied since the 1960s using very low frequency (VLF; 3 kHz to 30 kHz)/low-frequency (LF;30 kHz to 300 kHz) radio transmitter signals and riometers (Thorne and Larsen, 1976). The VLF/LF technique is most sensitive to the ionization of the D-region ionosphere, which is caused by energetic electron precipitation with energies typically >100 keV (Rodger et al., 2012). The low-latitude limit of particle precipitation is L ~ 4.0 (Berkey et al., 1974). Several studies have reported ionospheric modulations due to ultra low frequency (ULF) Pc5 and Pi2 modulations (Asnes et al., 2004). Modulation of D-region due to ULF waves during a substorm was reported (Miyashita et al., 2020). However, there was only one report for the EEP associated with ULF modulation using VLF/LF transmitter signals. In this study, we investigate the energetic electron precipitations associated with the ULF modulation that occurred on May 5, 2011, using the VLF/LF transmitter signals observed in North America. The three transmitters were NDK (frequency: 25.2 kHz, 46.37°N, 261.47°E, L=3.0 ); WWVB (60.0 kHz, 40.67°N, 254.95°E, L=2.3); and NLK (24.8 kHz, 48.20°N, 238.08°E, L=2.9 ). One receiver at Athabasca (ATHA), Canada (54.6°N, 246.7°E, L=4.3 ) was used. During 05:00-05:30 UT on May 5, 2011(magnetically quiet time), oscillations in amplitude and phase of VLF/LF waves with a period of 4-6 minutes were observed on the NDK-ATHA and WWVB-ATHA paths. This suggests that the EEP occurred over the two paths. The ground-based H-component magnetic field variations and Doppler velocity observed by the SuperDARN HF radars showed the there were small regions where the Doppler velocity was large near the WWVB-ATHA and NDK-ATHA paths during the VLF-LF oscillations. It is possible that the EEP occurred over the two paths. Based on ground-based magnetic field data, the propagation direction of the ULF wave was eastward (83.5 km/s) from the pre-midnight sector. In this presentation, we will discuss the cause of these VLF/LF oscillations.