Sudden ionospheric disturbance

A sudden ionospheric disturbance (SID) is any one of several ionospheric perturbations, resulting from abnormally high ionization/plasma density in the D region of the ionosphere and caused by a solar flare and/or solar particle event (SPE). The SID results in a sudden increase in radio-wave absorption that is most severe in the upper medium frequency (MF) and lower high frequency (HF) ranges, and as a result often interrupts or interferes with telecommunications systems.[1]

  1. ^ Federal Standard 1037C Glossary of Telecommunications Terms, http://www.its.bldrdoc.gov/fs-1037/fs-1037c.htm, retrieved 2011 Dec 15