VLF antenna for studies of lightning and other disturbances of the ionosphere (AWESOME network - Atmospheric Weather Electromagnetic System for Observation Modeling and Education)
With the installation of a VLF receiver and antenna system in May 2013, UPB connected to the AWESOME (Atmospheric Weather Electromagnetic System for Observation Modeling and Education) network based at Stanford University and is participating in “space weather” studies. ” The system monitors disturbances of the ionosphere, which can have their origins in various types of physical phenomena: lightning, solar flares, earthquakes, gamma ray outbreaks, etc. The system at UPB is part of the VLF monitoring systems connected to the AWESOME network and, in addition to contributing data to the network, it can also access data taken from various locations from Antarctica to California.
The research activities of this project are carried out in collaboration with researchers from Siena College and focuses on the study of lightning bolts and the process of their formation. Dr. Allan Weatherwax of Siena is responsible for two space missions (the "cubesat" Firefly and an instrument for installation on the International Space Station, Statify), the purpose of which is to collect data from terrestrial gamma-ray ground outbreaks ray flares or TGF). By comparing this information with data taken by VLF antennas and learning more about when and with what type of lightning TGF occurs, we hope to improve the scientific understanding of the lightning formation process. Due to its location near Ecuador, the UPB site is in an advantageous place to provide terrestrial data for these experiments.
Responsible:
Augusta Abrahamse, PhD
E-mail: abrahamse@upb.edu
References about the project: abrahamse@upb.edu
