Spectral Analysis and Information Entropy Approaches to Data of VLF Disturbances in the Waveguide Earth-Ionosphere

Abstract

Very low frequency (VLF) signals are considered as an important tool to study ionosphere disturbances. We have studied variations in signal amplitude of the Japanese JJI transmitter received by a network of eight Japan stations. The distinctions between characteristics of daytime and nighttime disturbances are considered. Signal processing based on spectral analysis is used to evaluate typical periodicities in the VLF signals in the time range from minutes to hours. In particular, we have retrieved quasi-wave oscillations of the received signal with periods of 4–10 and 20–25 min, which can be associated with atmospheric gravity waves excited by the solar terminator, earthquakes or other reasons. In addition, oscillations at periods of 3–4 h are observed, probably, caused by long-period gravity waves. We also calculate the information entropy to identify main details in daily VLF variations and influence of solar flares. It is shown that the information entropy increases near sunrise and sunset with seasonal variation, and that solar flares also lead to the growth in information entropy. A theoretical interpretation is given to the typical features of ultra-low frequency modulation of VLF electronagnetic wave spectra in Waveguide Earth-Ionosphere, found by processing the experimental data.

Keywords

• VLF signal
• Japanese VLF network
• waveguide earth–ionosphere
• Fourier analysis
• Shannon entropy
• terminator passage