ELF Detection of Energetic Particle Precipitation
Abstract
The scientific objective of this project was to investigate the effects of relativistic electron precipitation on the characteristics of the Schumann resonances. The method of investigation was to establish a Schumann resonance and ELF observing station in Alaska to provide high-latitude measurements for comparison against similar measurements made at midlatitude stations in California and Australia. Observations of Schumann resonance eigenfrequencies and Q-factors during May-October, 1989 showed discontinuous changes that correlated well with the occurrence of several large solar events that produced notable enhancements in the intensities of magnetospheric relativistic electrons 1.2<E sub e<2 MeV, energetic protons E sub p>1 MeV, and solar x-rays 0.5-8A. The observed correlation suggests that the solar events produced a globally significant perturbation in the conductivity of the D-region forming the upper boundary of the earth-ionosphere cavity to produce the observed Schumann resonance response. A more refined analysis of the data will permit establishing the relative importance of the relativistic electron, energetic proton and x-ray contributions to the observed perturbations. In addition to making Schumann resonance measurements, the station in Alaska successfully detected for the first time ALF emissions in the frequency range 6- 154 Hz generated by polar electrojet modification by the HIPAS HF heater facility located near Fairbanks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 25, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA230632
Entities
People
- D. D. Sentman
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles