VLF monitoring system for characterizing the lower region ionospheric layer

• Published in: Progress In Electromagnetics Research M
• Main Author: Zakaria N.A.; Taat A.; Rahim S.A.E.A.; Mokhtar W.Z.A.W.; Jusoh M.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Electromagnetics Academy 2018
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85046152350&doi=10.2528%2fpierm17112802&partnerID=40&md5=dc2543cce9f04d803835f614f4941d86

The main objective of the current work is to develop a Very Low Frequency (VLF) monitoring system for characterizing low layer ionosphere. Low layer ionosphere is important for communication, and some researchers stressed that lower layer ionosphere can be a precursor to earthquake event. The VLF monitoring system composed of a 1-m antenna, a preamplifier to amplify the signal, an ADC converter and a data acquisition system. The optimization of 1-m antenna received dual frequencies 19.2 kHz and 19.8 kHz from South Vijayanarayanam, India and North West Cape, Australia, respectively. Subsequently, a low pass filter was designed in the preamplifier to pass VLF signals from 0{30 kHz. The results revealed that the system was able to characterize diurnal variation: sunrise and sunset and detect changes in the lower layer ionosphere region due to Solar activity. © 2018, Electromagnetics Academy. All rights reserved.