Quantifying Energetic Particle Precipitation using the Array for Broadband Observations of VLF/ELF Emissions (ABOVE)

Abstract:

The Array for Broadband Observations of VLF/ELF Emissions (ABOVE) is a network of instruments deployed across Western Canada to monitor electromagnetic emissions from 200 Hz to 75 kHz. By observing the amplitude and phase of artificial ground-based transmitters in this band, we monitor changes in lower D layer ionization caused by energetic particle precipitation. We discuss numerical modeling and sensitivity analyses that enable us to use ABOVE data to quantify energetic particle precipitation over Western Canada. We then apply this technique to precipitation events, comparing our preliminary results with in-situ and ground-based observations. We conclude that ABOVE offers a large-scale perspective on the problem of acceleration and loss of radiation belt particles that complements the detailed in-situ measurements from the Van Allen Probes, Themis, and other satellite missions.