Suchergebnisse

Abstract. The classic approach to calculate the electrostatic field penetration, from the Earth's surface into the ionosphere, is to consider the following equation ∇·(σ·∇Φ)=0 where σ and Φ are the electric conductivity and the potential of the electric field, respectively. The penetration characteristics strongly depend on the conductivities of atmosphere and ionosphere. To estimate the electrostatic field penetration up to the orbital height of DEMETER satellite (about 700 km) the role of the ionosphere must be analyzed. It is done with help of a special upper boundary condition for the atmospheric electric field. In this paper, we investigate the influence of the ionospheric conductivity on the electrostatic field penetration from the Earth's surface into the ionosphere. We show that the magnitude of the ionospheric electric field penetrated from the ground is inverse proportional to the value of the ionospheric Pedersen conductance. So its typical value in day-time is about hundred times less than in night-time.

Abstract. We investigate the VLF emissions observed by the Instrument Champ Electrique (ICE) experiment onboard the DEMETER micro-satellite. We analyze intensity level variation 10 days before and after the occurrence of l'Aquila earthquake (EQ). We found a clear decrease of the VLF received signal related to ionospheric whistler mode (mainly Chorus emission) and to signal transmitted by the DFY VLF station in Germany, few days (more than one week) before the earthquake. The VLF power spectral density decreases of more than two orders of magnitude until the EQ, and it recovers to normal levels just after the EQ occurrence. The geomagnetic activity is principally weak four days before EQ and increases again one day before l'Aquila seismic event. Our results are discussed in the frame of short- and long-terms earthquakes prediction focusing on the crucial role of the magnetic field of the Earth.