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- Title
Generation of Artificial ULF/ELF Electromagnetic Emission in the Ionosphere by Horizontal Ground‐Based Current System.
- Authors
Fedorov, E. N.; Mazur, N. G.; Pilipenko, V. A.; Vakhnina, V. V.
- Abstract
The feasibility of the detection of electromagnetic response in the upper ionosphere to ground large‐scale ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) and extremely‐low‐frequency (ELF) transmitters by low‐Earth‐orbit (LEO) satellites is considered. As an example of such transmitters, we consider the ZEVS 82 Hz transmitter, FENICS installation driven by 0.5–150 Hz generator, and industrial 50 Hz unbalanced power transmission lines. We numerically model the ULF/ELF wave energy leakage into the upper ionosphere from an oscillating grounded linear power line of a finite length suspended above a ground with a finite resistivity. The numerical scheme is based on the theoretical formalism developed to describe the excitation of an electromagnetic field by a horizontal grounded dipole. A realistic altitudinal profile of the plasma parameters has been reconstructed with the use of the IRI ionospheric model. For the ZEVS transmitter powered by 200 A current the modeled amplitudes of electromagnetic response can reach in the upper nightside ionosphere up to 60 µV/m and 6 pT. The assumption of an infinite source scale overestimates the ionospheric response by a factor of ∼7 as compared with realistic scale 60 km of the ZEVS transmitter. Unbalanced 50 Hz current of 10 A in large‐scale (>100 km) power transmission lines can produce the electric response in the upper ionosphere that is sufficient to be detected by electric sensors at LEO satellite. The stimulation of artificial Pc1 pulsations (0.5 Hz) with amplitudes ∼1 pT and ∼10 µV/m by large‐scale (>100 km) power lines is possible with driving current >100 A. The use of decommissioned power lines can be a cheap and efficient tool to stimulate Pc1 pulsations in the ionosphere. Plain Language Summary: Our planet was found to exist in an electromagnetic environment, at least in some frequency bands, created by rather industrial activity than by natural processes. The electromagnetic response in the ionosphere to thunderstorms and radio transmitters has been well studied in the very‐low‐frequency range (>1 kHz), but much less attention has been paid to the extremely‐low‐frequency (ELF) (≪1 kHz) and ultra‐low‐frequency (ULF) (<1 Hz) bands. Any noticeable ULF/ELF emission efficiency may be expected only for extremely large‐scale emitting systems. Such man‐made transmitters do exist. Powerful ELF aerials for communication with submarines with a length of about several tens of km were constructed. Special experiments with controlled sources of electromagnetic fields of ULF/ELF bands were carried out using decommissioned power lines as a horizontal radiating antenna. Transportation systems can also be extended ULF antenna. Finally, unbalanced networks of electric power transmission 50/60 Hz lines become large‐scale emitters. Our numerical modeling has proved that manmade ULF/ELF electromagnetic activity near the ground can be monitored by low‐Earth‐orbit satellites. The large‐scale decommissioned power lines can be used to stimulate artificial Pc1 pulsations with frequency ≤1 Hz in the ionosphere‐magnetosphere system. These experiments open the possibility to stimulate a loss of relativistic electrons from the radiation belt. Key Points: New numerical model of ultra‐low‐frequency/extremely‐low‐frequency emission generation in the ionosphere by a near‐ground linear current of a finite length has been elaboratedThe model gives the possibility to estimate electromagnetic response of the ionosphere to current sources of different lengthsArtificial Pc1 pulsations can be generated in the upper ionosphere by a large‐scale power line system
- Subjects
ELECTRIC power transmission; IONOSPHERE; ELECTRIC networks; ELECTRIC lines; RADIO transmitters &; transmission; PULSATILE flow
- Publication
Journal of Geophysical Research. Space Physics, 2023, Vol 128, Issue 12, p1
- ISSN
2169-9380
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1029/2023JA031590