An Analytical Model of ELF Radiowave Propagation in Ground-Ionosphere Waveguides With a Multilayered Ground

• Published in: IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation Vol. 61; no. 9; pp. 4803 - 4809
• Main Authors: Kulak, Andrzej, Mlynarczyk, Janusz, Kozakiewicz, Joanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY IEEE 01-09-2013; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Conductivity; Electromagnetic waveguides; Equations; Exact sciences and technology; Extremely low frequency (ELF); Geophysical measurement techniques; geoscience and remote sensing; Ground penetrating radar; Ionosphere; Mathematical model; Radiocommunications; Radiowave propagation; Services and terminals of telecommunications; Systems, networks and services of telecommunications; Telecommunications; Telecommunications and information theory; Telemetry. Remote supervision. Telewarning. Remote control; transmission lines; Electrical conductivity; Extremely low frequency (ELF); Multiple layer; geoscience and remote sensing; Electromagnetic pulse; Waveguide; Electromagnetic wave; Radiowave propagation; transmission lines; Remote sensing; Transmission line; Extremely low frequency; Ground wave; Analytical method; Electromagnetic field; Ionosphere; Non contact measurement
• ISSN: 0018-926X; 1558-2221
• DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2013.2268244

A planetary crust with a low electric conductivity has a strong influence on extremely low frequency (ELF) radiowave propagation in the ground-ionosphere waveguide due to the penetration of the ground by the wave's electromagnetic field. The amount of influence it has depends on the actual structure of the ground. Accurate models of radiowave propagation in the ELF range are essential in the study of atmospheric discharges and remote sensing applications. Analytical models are still of primary interest when trying to find inverse solutions and when dealing with large objects such as spherical waveguides that consists of a planetary ground and ionosphere. In this paper, we analyze the influence of a multilayered finite conductivity ground on the propagation of ELF electromagnetic waves in the ground-ionosphere waveguide. We have developed equations that enable us to include different ground models in propagation equations using the concept of complex altitudes, and applied them to the study of ELF electromagnetic field pulses on Mars. This study shows that the structure of the ground and its electrical conductivity has a strong influence on the observed waveforms. Therefore, ELF pulses can serve as a tool for probing planetary grounds. The presented model can also be used to study Schumann resonances.