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ionospheric disturbance A sudden outburst of flare or chromospheric eruption, which produces abnormally high ionization in the region of the D-layer. The result is a sudden increase in radio wave absorption, with particular severity in the upper medium frequencies and lower high frequencies. It has negligible effects on the heights of the reflecting/refracting layers and, consequently, upon critical frequencies, but enormous transmission losses may occur. See also sudden ionospheric disturbance.

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