Monitoring the Ground-Based VLF transmissions from Space using IMAGE/RPI

V. Paznukhov, P. Song, B. Reinisch, G. Sales, G. Khmyrov
Center for Atmospheric Research University of Massachusetts Lowell


Using the global network of ground-based VLF transmitters operating at
frequency between 10 and 30 kHz, we have monitored the occurrence of
whistler mode VLF signals with the RPI instrument on the IMAGE satellite.
Our objective was to study the power and effective spatial scales of the
whistler waves propagating trough the ionosphere into the magnetosphere. We
have identified signals from 20 stations in the plasmasphere region with
L-shells ranging from 1.1 to 5.2.  Ten of these stations have high radiated
power, 200 kW to 1 MW. The spatial region where VLF signals were observed
was significantly smaller during the dayside measurements than during the
nightside ones. We also present azimuthal and radial characteristics of the
VLF signal amplitude.

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Presentation, Fall Meeting, American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, USA, 
8-12 December 2003