Diurnal Variations of Globally Measured ELF/VLF Radio Noise
Abstract
The Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience (STAR) Laboratory at Stanford has been conducting a global survey of extremely-low frequency (ELF) and very-low frequency (VLF) radio noise since February 1985. Eight measurement stations around the world record the instantaneous noise amplitude in each of sixteen narrow frequency bands in the 10 Hz - 32 kHz frequency range, and this report presents calculations of the long-term diurnal variations of these amplitudes for the four stations with the longest times of operation. For a given month and station, the diurnal variations of all the days in that month are averaged together, then the resulting monthly diurnal variations are averaged by month over subsequent years. These calculations provide the long-term averages of the diurnal variations of ELF/VLF noise for each month and channel and at each location. Since the principal source of ELF/VLF radio noise is lightning in thunderstorms, and the various thunderstorm centers around the globe have specific diurnal signatures, these data help determine source locations of the sferics that contribute to a given station's received radio noise. In addition, since contribute to a given station's received radio noise. In addition, since the plot are by month, they aid in tracking the global shifts in source distribution throughout the year.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA358641
Entities
People
- Antony Fraser-Smith
- D. A. Chrissan
Organizations
- Stanford University