Satellite observations of Schumann resonances in the Earth's ionosphere

Abstract

Using electric field measurements gathered on the C/NOFS satellite, we report, Schumann resonance signatures detected in space, well beyond the upper boundary of the resonant cavity formed by the earth's surface and the lower edge of the ionosphere. The resonances are routinely observed in the satellite ELF data during nighttime conditions within the altitude region of 400–850 km sampled by the satellite. They exhibit the distinctive frequency patterns predicted for Schumann resonances and are consistent with the corresponding frequency characteristics of ground‐based observations of this phenomenon. The observations of Schumann resonances in space support a leaky cavity interpretation of the ionosphere and call for revisions of models of extremely low frequency wave propagation in the ionosphere. They suggest new remote sensing capabilities for investigating atmospheric electricity on Earth and other planets.

Detection of ionospheric Alfvén resonator signatures in the equatorial ionosphere

“…The electric field spectral density is about 10 and 15 dB above the background noise in the meridional and zonal components, respectively. The fuzzy, wide horizontal stripes visible close to 8, 14, 20, 26, and 32 Hz in the plots are Schumann resonance modes, ELF signatures of the longitudinal mode of the earth-ionosphere cavity [Simões et al, 2011a].…”

“…[9] The Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite was launched in April 2008 into a low inclination (13 degree) orbit of with perigee at 401 km and apogee near 867 km [de la Beaujardière et al, 2004], and has provided invaluable data to investigate the ionospheric equatorial region electrodynamics, namely scintillations, plasma depletions, neutral winds, aeronomy processes, and low frequency electromagnetic waves [de la Beaujardière et al, 2009;Heelis et al, 2009;Klenzing et al, 2011;Simões et al, 2011a]. Among the scientific payload, the Vector Electric Field Instrument (VEFI) is used to investigate electric and magnetic fields; VEFI consists of a three-axis double probe electric field detector that provides continuous DC and AC electric field measurements, a magnetometer, and two optical sensors for lightning detection [Pfaff et al, 2010;Holzworth et al, 2011].…”

Atmospheric Electrification in Dusty, Reactive Gases in the Solar System and Beyond

“…These natural resonances in the Earth-ionosphere cavity (Q resonator) constitute the AC global electric circuit. Somewhat surprisingly, resonances at 8, 14, 20 Hz are also observed on satellites at altitudes of several hundred km, above the ionosphere (Simões et al 2011;Dudkin et al 2014). Although the electric field measured is much smaller at a satellite platform compared with ground-based measurements (three orders of magnitude smaller for the first Schumann peak), the fact that it is detectable at all offers the possibility for fly-by measurements at other planetary bodies.…”

Electric field of the power terrestrial sources observed by microsatellite Chibis‐M in the Earth's ionosphere in frequency range 1–60 Hz

“…For a fifth mode the Q factor can reach 20 in contrast to ground value~6.0. As what follows from Figure 3 (bottom) [Simões et al, 2011], the Q factors should be greater than declared, i.e., 4.9, 6.7, and 8.2. The understated Q-values can be explained by erroneous quality estimation at level 0.5 instead of 2 À0.5 (see paragraph 9 in Simões et al [2011]).…”

“…In spite of this fact, SR has been found for the first time in data collected by the C/NOFS satellite [Simões et al, 2011]. C/NOFS observed SR signals in the altitude range 400-850 km at the local nighttime.…”