Propagation of ELF waves below an inhomogeneous anisotropic ionosphere

The ionospheric anisotropy is considered with horizontal magnetic field either for transverse (East-West or West-East) or for longitudinal (South-North) propagation. For transverse propagation in a vertically stratified medium the differential equations of the various field components are uncoupled and a closed form solution is given for identical exponential height variation of the components of tensor conductivity. For arbitrary height variation of the tensor conductivity numerical solutions are obtained after expressing the surface impedance below the ionosphere in terms of a Riccati-type differential equation. The West-East direction of propagation exhibits a lower attenuation constant than the East-West direction forf < 1000cps. This is contrary to the expectations based on a model of a homogeneous anisotropic ionosphere. For longitudinal propagation the differential equations of the various field components are coupled, with the coupling being particularly strong above theDregion. The differential equations are simplified by assuming no coupling in the lower ionosphere and strong coupling above a pre-selected altitudey_{1}. For exponential height variation of the tensor conductivity components the closed form solution differs negligibly from the isotropic case. For arbitrary height varition of the tensor conductivity numerical solutions are obtained similarly as for the transverse propagation. Over most of the frequency range the attenuation figures for South-North propagation are intermediate between the corresponding figures for West-East and East-West propagation.