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Modeling E & F Region Ionospheric Response To X-Ray Solar Flares, Annette M. Parsons

Theses and Dissertations

This research takes an existing ionospheric model and modifies it to include the effects of solar flare activity. Solar flares are a localized explosive release of magnetic energy that appears as a sudden, short-lived brightening in the sun’s chromosphere. This additional energy is deposited in the earth’s ionosphere, temporarily changing its properties, which can affect military communications. Studying the effects of moderate solar flares will improve our understanding of the ionosphere’s response, leading to better operational models. Modification of the model is accomplished by adding a flare irradiance model to represent solar irradiance changes due to a flare. The irradiance …