Locating Earth Disturbances Using the SDR Earth Imager

Abstract

The Radio Wave Phase Imager uses monitoring and recording concepts, such as Software Defined Radio (SDR), to image Earth’s atmosphere. The Long Wavelength Array (LWA), New Mexico Observatory is considered a high-resolution camera that obtains phase information about Earth and space disturbances; therefore, it was employed to capture radio signals reflected from Earth’s F ionization layer. Phase information reveals and measures the properties of waves that exist in the ionization layer. These waves represent terrestrial and solar Earth disturbances, such as power losses from power generating and distribution stations. Two LWA locations were used to capture the ionization layer waves, including University of New Mexico’s Long Wavelength Array’s LWA-1 and LWA-SV. Two locations of the measurements showed wavevector directions of disturbances, whereas the intersection of wavevectors determined the source of the disturbance. The research described here focused on measuring the ionization layer wave’s phase shifts, frequencies, and wavevectors. This novel approach is a significant contribution to determine the source of any disturbance.

Measuring Power of Earth Disturbances Using Radio Wave Phase Imager

“…Each place measured its own set of waves. Together, their stereographic projection revealed nicely the intersection points of the two sets of wavevectors having the same frequency of 0.06 cycles/m but different wavevectors [31]. Their intersection point represents the location of the source creating the waves as the ionospheric waves radiate outwards 360 degrees from the source.…”

“…Their intersection point represents the location of the source creating the waves as the ionospheric waves radiate outwards 360 degrees from the source. The local wave sources were previously determined to be Albuquerque and its nearby power generating stations [31].…”

“…More recent experiments found the sources of the ionosphere waves to be local power generating stations, and the primary place of power consumption was Albuquerque, NM. This capability was enabled by the measurement of the wavevectors of the ionosphere waves made possible by the detection of the waves from two locations, LWA1 and LWA-SV [31].…”

“…The analysis focused on the strongest set of waves, those represented by the two yellow Fourier peaks in Figure 7. These peaks were previously used to determine the origin of their disturbance at Albuquerque [31].…”

“…In more recent experimental investigations, ionosphere wave sources have been traced back to the vicinity of local power generating stations [31]. The primary site of power consumption was identified as Albuquerque, New Mexico.…”