Thunderstorm activity according to VLF observations at Kamchatka

The azimuthal distribution of lightning discharges and cyclone epicenters at a distance of up to 4000 km from the observation point at Kamchatka is given. The azimuths of lightning discharges were determined using an ELF finder, and the cyclone epicenters were determined from meteorological maps. Time dependences of the distribution of received radiations from lightning discharges have been obtained.     

Earthquake effects along paths of VLF radio noise and impulsive signals as observed at Yakutsk

An analysis of amplitude variations in the noise and storm-induced impulsive VLF electromagnetic signals recorded at Yakutsk along paths above earthquakes is reported. It is shown that amplitude characteristics of storm-induced VLF signals can usefully supplement signals of radio stations as used in the radio monitoring of regions above earthquakes. The effect on these signals due to earthquakes of magnitude greater than 5 is observed as an amplitude increase within the three days following an earthquake. The pre-seismic variations in the storm-induced signal amplitude which can be regarded as precursors are generally observed as increased amplitudes (within 10 days before the earthquake) with a subsequent minimum.     

Remote sensing of thunderstorm activity by means of VLF sferics

The results of a three-month observational period (June–August 1981) during sunlit hours (9:00–15:00 GMT) with VLF sferics at the two stations Tel Aviv, Israel, and Pretoria, South Africa, are presented and compared with rainfall data for the European-African area, with two lability indices of thunderstorm prediction, and with synoptic thunderstorm reports for the same time interval. The locations of thunderstorm centers on the continents determined from the sferics stations compare reasonably well with the distribution of rainfall, indicating that the VLF sferics method is a useful measure of rainfall, particularly in remote regions with inadequate coverage of observing stations. The lability index of Showalter (1953) appears to be rather qualitative for the prediction of thunderstorm occurrence, and any fine structure in the distribution of thunderstorm centers as seen in the sferics data is lost. The same is true of the synoptic reports of thunderstorm days. A new lability index has been developed. This index leads to a more detailed structure of thunderstorm prediction, which is consistent with the sferics data.     

Forecast of solar wind parameters according to STOP magnetograph observations

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The paper discusses the results of the forecast of solar wind parameters at a distance of 1 AU made according to observations made by the STOP telescope magnetograph...     

玉树地震前电离层VLF信号信噪比变化

2010年4月13日23点49分38秒(世界时),青海省玉树县发生了Ms7.1地震.根据法国DEMETER卫星电场探测仪(ICE)实验数据,研究震区上空半径500 km范围内电离层10-20 kHz甚低频(VLF)电场频谱信噪比发现,玉树地震前3个不同频率的地面VLF发射站信号对应的信噪比均出现相同的变化特征,即震前DEMETER卫星1个重访周期内的平均信噪比明显减弱,而2009年相同时段和区域的平均信噪比并未出现相似变化趋势.分析认为,玉树地震孕震期信噪比衰减现象很可能是由地震-电离层耦合所致.     

Variations in thunderstorm VLF emissions propagating over epicenters of earthquakes

In this study, the variations of average amplitude of the very-low-frequency (VLF) signal thunderstorm origin propagating over areas of strong (magnitude >5) earthquakes are considered. Despite the non-stationary state of thunderstorms, a decrease in the amplitude of its VLF signals was usually detected 3–6 days before an earthquake, with subsequent recovery on the day of the event. The effect is similar to the attenuation of the signal amplitude of low-frequency radio stations that is observed for several days before the occurrence of an earthquake. These influences of earthquakes on thunderstorm VLF signals are recorded along different paths (different azimuths and different distances to the earthquake epicenter). The probability that an earthquake of strong magnitude will induce changes in the thunderstorm VLF signal is 60–70%.     

玉树地震前电离层VLF信号信噪比变化

2010年4月13日23点49分38秒(世界时), 青海省玉树县发生了M_S7.1地震. 根据法国DEMETER卫星电场探测仪(ICE)实验数据, 研究震区上空半径500 km范围内电离层10—20 kHz甚低频(VLF)电场频谱信噪比发现, 玉树地震前3个不同频率的地面VLF发射站信号对应的信噪比均出现相同的变化特征, 即震前DEMETER卫星1个重访周期内的平均信噪比明显减弱, 而2009年相同时段和区域的平均信噪比并未出现相似变化趋势. 分析认为, 玉树地震孕震期信噪比衰减现象很可能是由地震-电离层耦合所致.     

Ionospheric response to the partial solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, according to the observations at Nizhni Novgorod and Murmansk

The results of observations of the solar eclipse ionospheric effects on March 29, 2006, are presented. The observations were conducted using the partial reflection method near Nizhni Novgorod and the vertical sounding method at the automatic ionospheric station near Murmansk. It has been obtained that the electron density at altitudes of 77 and 91 km decreases by a factor of more than 4; in this case the response of the ionosphere at an altitude of 91 km lags behind the eclipse maximum phase on the Earth by approximately 20 min. It has been established that the eclipse in the E and F1 regions of the polar ionosphere causes a change in the electron density by 15–20%. The delay time of this effect varies from 12 to 24 min depending on the altitude. It has been registered that the reflection virtual altitude at altitudes of the ionospheric F region increases in Murmansk and Nizhni Novgorod.     

Development of geomagnetic storm in VLF noise

The complex geophysical pattern of the development of geomagnetic storm in VLF emissions has been studied based on the satellite data. It has been established that the variations in the LF noise emission intensity (0.1–20.0 kHz) and the energetic electron (E ≥ 40 keV) flux density reflect the processes of magnetospheric plasma reconstruction during geomagnetic disturbances. It has been indicated that a distinct structure of the inner and outer radiation belts is observed under quiet conditions, and the VLF emission maximum was registered at L = 4–5. The inner boundary of the outer radiation belt shifted to lower latitudes, the intensity of the noise VLF emissions increased, and the intensity maximum was displaced to L = 2.5–3.5 during the geomagnetic storm, when the energetic electron flux density increased. The VLF noise spectrum widened toward higher frequencies. The VLF noise level continued increasing, the noise maximum shifted to L = 4–5, and the fluxes of precipitating electrons abruptly increased during the storm recovery phase, when the density of the flux of quasitrapped electrons remained increased for a long time.     

VLF/LF signal studies of the ionospheric response to strong seismic activity in the Far Eastern region combining the DEMETER and ground-based observations

The paper presents the results of a joint analysis of ground-based and satellite observations of very low-frequency and low-frequency (VLF/LF) signals during periods of strong seismic activity in the region of Kuril Islands and Japan in 2004–2010. Ground and satellite data was processed using a method based on the difference between the real signal in nighttime and that of a model. The results of the analysis show a good correlation between ground-based and satellite data for several cases of strong (M ⩾ 6.8) earthquakes.     

甚低频/低频人工源电波信号地震应用研究进展

甚低频/低频人工源电波作为一种主动源发射的通讯导航信号,因其长距离波导传播的特性在地-电离层观测及应用中表现出极大的优势.本文总结了二十世纪末以来基于甚低频/低频(VLF/LF)电波观测技术及其数据分析方法、典型震例及统计研究成果、圈层耦合机理等方面的研究进展,并通过探讨其应用成果的快速积累及前兆扰动起源等研究难点,展...     

Specific features of radio emissions of coronal holes based on eclipse and noneclipse observations at a solar activity minimum

Solar coronal holes (CHs) at a minimum of the 23rd activity cycle were investigated using Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) data, ground-based observational data from the radio telescopes of the Kislovodsk Solar Station, Pulkovo Observatory (KSS PO), Russian Academy of Sciences, and radioheliograph data from the Nobeyama Observatory (Japan). The 2006–2008 period was characterized by a small number of active regions on the solar disk; nevertheless, this period is favorable for studying low-contrast objects in the radio band (CHs). We investigate the evolution of CH areas, the location of CHs on the solar disk, and the features of their radiation in the radio band. We present the results of observations of the total (March 29, 2006) and partial (August 1, 2008) solar eclipses by the RT-3 and RT-2 radio telescopes of the KSS PO. Based on the eclipse observation data, compact sources were identified on the solar disk and the contribution of CHs to the integral radio emission flux was estimated. A rare effect (increased radio emissions of high-latitude CHs at a wavelength of 4.9 cm) was revealed, which may be caused by X-ray bright points in CHs. Here, polar CHs are characterized by low levels of radio emission.     

Microwave radiation of solar active regions before X flares according to the RATAN-600 observations in 2011

The evolution of the microwave radiation from four active regions, where strong X-ray flares (X-class, GOES) occurred in 2011, has been studied. Daily multiwavelength RATAN-600 radio observations of the Sun in the 1.6–8.0 cm range have been used. It has been indicated that the radiosource above the photospheric magnetic field neutral line (above the region with the maximal convergence of the fields opposite in sign) becomes predominant in the structure of the active region microwave radiation one to two days before a powerful flare as in the eruptive events previously studied with RATAN-600. The appearance of such a radiosource possibly reflects the current sheet formation in the corona above the active region. The energy necessary for a flare is stored in the magnetic field of active region, which can be considered as a factor for predicting a powerful flare.     

Global lightning formation at a minimum and maximum of solar activity according to the observations of the Schumann resonance on the Kola Peninsula

On the basis of the two-component measurements of the atmospheric noise electromagnetic field on the Kola Peninsula, a change in the first Schumann resonance (SR-1) as an indicator of global lightning formation is studied depending on the level of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). It is found that the effect of GCRs is most evident during five months: in January and from September to December; in this case the SR-1 intensity in 2001 was higher than the level of 2007 by a factor of 1.5 and more. This effect almost disappears when the regime of the Northern Hemisphere changes into the summer regime. It is assumed that an increase in the GCR intensity results in an increase in the lightning occurrence frequency; however, the probability that the power of each lightning stroke decreases owing to an early disruption of the charge separation and accumulation processes in a thundercloud increases; on the contrary, a decrease in the GCR intensity decreases lightning stroke occurrence frequency and simultaneously increases the probability of accumulating a higher energy by a thundercloud and increasing the lightning power to the maximum possible values.     

The correlation of whistler occurrence rate at a low latitude with thunderstorm activity at its conjugate region and with solar activity

The correlations of occurrence rate of whistlers in January during one solar cycle (1977–1987) at a low latitude station (Yamaoka, geomag. lat. 25°, L=1.26) with thunderstorm activity near its conjugate region and also with solar activity have been investigated, and it is found that the occurrence rate has no correlation with the lightning flashes near the conjugate point, while it is negatively correlated with solar activity. On the basis of these findings it is suggested that the ionospheric absorption is of major importance in the long-term variation of whistler occurrence rate, with the duct formation being of secondary effect, while the lightning activity is only a necessary condition for whistler occurrence.     

Low-frequency noise at altitudes of the outer ionosphere and solar activity

The results of recording the intensity of low-frequency electromagnetic emissions at altitudes of the outer ionosphere based on satellite data at various levels of solar activity have been investigated. The intensity of low-frequency emissions has been found to depend on the solar activity, i.e., the spatial noise characteristics vary. Mean values of the noise amplitude variations at various phases of the solar activity cycle are presented. The low-frequency emissions are shown to serve as a source of information about the processes in the surface plasma; in particular, the state of the radiation belts is judged from them. The noise carries information about the variations in the particle fluxes intruding into the Earth’s plasmasphere under various solar activity conditions and about the magnetospheric plasma variations related to the growth of solar activity. In other words, the electromagnetic low-frequency noise can be a peculiar kind of indicator of the solar activity and the state of the magnetosphere.     

Optical observations of large-scale undulations in the 23rd cycle of solar activity

A statistical analysis of observations of large-scale undulations during the 23rd cycle of solar activity was performed using optical data from two stations: Tixie (71.6°N, 128.9°E) and Zhigansk (66.8°N, 123.4°E). The total number of events recorded was 54 (43 events at Tixie and 11 at Zhigansk). The complete list of observed events is presented. The occurrence frequency of eveningside (17–23 LT) undulations during the solar activity growth (1999) and decline (2003–2005) phases tends to increase. Large-scale undulations were shown to be generated both on the equatorward boundary of the diffuse auroral zone and inside the diffuse zone, which does not necessarily occur during magnetic storms.     

太阳活动低年电离层磁场VLF波的观测特性研究

本文利用搭载在DEMETER卫星上的感应式磁力仪(Instrument Magnetometer Search-Coil, IMSC)探测数据分析了磁场甚低频(Very Low Frequency, VLF)波功率谱的空间分布.在排除地磁扰动影响(Dst≤-30 nT,Kp≥3,AE≥200 nT)的前提下,我们给出2007年不同季节,日侧和夜侧,磁场VLF波功率谱的全球分布的背景场探测和对应的统计误差分布.利用太阳活动低年的背景场探测统计分析了磁场VLF波功率谱的频谱特性和季节变化,以及对来自空间的地磁活动的响应特征.太阳同步高度卫星探测的磁场VLF波功率谱也可以观测到源于地球特定区域里的磁场异常所产生的频谱响应.12.5~17.5 kHz频段的磁场VLF波功率谱全球分布清楚地给出了南大西洋磁场异常区的分布轮廓.夜间百慕大地磁异常影响了磁场VLF波功率谱的多个频段,并显示出类似于高纬极区磁场的地磁活动响应的观测特征.卫星磁场VLF波功率谱探测背景研究表明,源于空间的地磁扰动和源于地球的局部地磁异常都会引起电离层磁场VLF波功率谱的变化.特别是在12.5~17.5 kHz频段,我们发现了沿板块边缘分布的电离层磁场VLF波功率谱增强带,这将为我们探寻由板块运动引起的地球突发事件的电离层响应增加探测依据,为定量甄别此类事件的电离层异常信号积累实用的背景参照.