Simultaneous ground-based and satellite observations of natural VLF waves in Antarctica: A case study of downward ionospheric penetration of whistler-mode waves

Abstract To investigate downward ionospheric-penetration characteristics of VLF (several hundred Hz to 17.8 kHz) whistler-mode waves, we conducted simultaneous observations (in 2006) of natural VLF waves using both ground stations in Antarctica and the Japanese Akebono satellite. The ground-based and satellite observations included an interesting event for which both observed similar VLF waves. In this study, we theoretically calculate down-going whistler-mode wave propagation based on ground-satellite observations using the full-wave analysis. In a case study, the observed wave-normal angles were approximately 140–160 degrees for a dayside chorus event on 15 March 2006. The theoretical calculation showed that the wave-normal angles for ionospheric penetration should be around 155.6 degrees, with its angular width of approximately 2 degrees. Moreover, the wave-energy loss due to ionospheric penetration is estimated at 20.4 dB based on our theoretical calculation, in accordance with the observed 17–19 dB.