Analysis of Attenuation Characteristics of Polar VLF Electromagnetic Wave Propagation across Ice Layer

Abstract

Very low frequency(VLF) electromagnetic wave provides a reliable method for cross-medium communication in polar sea environments due to its ability to penetrate seawater. In order to solve the problem of polar VLF electromagnetic wave propagation across the ice layer, a multilayer dielectric propagation model based on the transmission matrix was established in this paper. The attenuation characteristics of VLF electromagnetic waves in air-ice layer-seawater and the influence of incident angle were studied by using the two-port network equivalent circuit method. Through simulation and field experiment data, the attenuation law of VLF electromagnetic wave field intensity in the ice layer was quantified for the first time, revealing the important discovery that the attenuation of VLF electromagnetic wave field intensity in the ice layer was less than 1 dB per meter. The effect of sea ice on VLF communication in polar regions was evaluated. The results show that sea ice had less loss on VLF electromagnetic waves and was not the main factor affecting VLF communication.

Keywords

• polar sea
• very low frequency electromagnetic wave
• cross-medium communication
• transmission matrix
• two-port network