Effects in the ionosphere and HF radio-wave propagation during an intense substorm

We present the results of combined radiophysical studies during the period of an intense magnetospheric substorm which occurred from 00:00 to 02:00 UT in April 12, 1999. Measurements of the ionospheric parameters by a chain of European ionosondes for this period were compared with the variations in ionospheric parameters averaged over more than 70 substorms. The latter variations were obtained by data from the ionosondes of Europe, Central Siberia, and North America in 1993–1999. Data from the CUTLASS radar as well as the DMSP and POES satellites were used for the analysis of the April 11–12 substorm. Numerical calculations of HF radio-wave propagation on the St. Petersburg—Longyearbyen (Svalbard) high-latitude path were carried out by the ray tracing technique. Two simultaneous effects have been revealed in the ionosphere. One occurs immediately during the substorm and another is associated with the end of the magnetic storm in April 10, 1999. According to the CUTLASS radar data, the number of backscattering irregularities in the ionospheric F layer notably decreased during the substorm expansion phase. Satellite data showed an increase in the “soft” (hundreds of eV) particle precipitation before and after the substorm. Numerical calculations of HF radio-wave propagation on the St. Petersburg—Longyearbyen path have demonstrated an essential change of propagation mechanisms during the substorm and a tangible change in the wave arrival angles before and after the substorm.