Disturbance detection due to lightning at ionospheric D-region over Malaysia

Abstract

Previous research on the interference of very low frequency (VLF) signals in the equator region was inadequate and largely concentrated in the middle and high latitude regions. Therefore, this research aims to determine the disruption of VLF waves in the ionospheric D-region above Malaysia, which is in the equator area. This paper presents observations of early/fast, early/slow, and lightning-induced electron precipitation (LEP) events in January 2010. Broadband and narrowband data are monitored and investigated using Japan’s JJI Ebino transmitter (32°40' N, 130°81' E) to the receiver at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (2°55' N, 101°46' E). Broadband and narrowband data are analyzed with theoretical considerations and linked to events from interference in the ionospheric D-region. Many early/fast, early/slow, and LEP events are found to originate from the lightning release activity emitted and may alter the amplitude and VLF signal phase in the lower layer ionosphere over Malaysia.