This is actually Terra Lab part 2. I told you there would be multiple Terra Lab entries. I apologize in advance if I have misinterpreted any of the science involved. I'm learning about all this stuff along with you.
How many of you have ever heard of a magnetometer? Something that meters (measures) magnets? Close. A magnetometer is an instrument that measures magnetic activity. VLF is a high tech way of saying Very Low Frequency (we just never get away from that spectrum, do we?) Two very cool areas of research.
VLF
There are two projects on this. Robert Moore (Not to be confused with 007 Roger Moore) from the University of Florida is the Principal Investigator of this project is studying lightning and its effects on the Earth’s inner radiation belt. I am told he is measuring natural and rocket-triggered lightning flashes. I didn't know realize a rocket triggers such a flash. Anyway, they are analyzing the components, the effects of lightning, and lightning induced electron precipitation (LEP). To be honest, I don't fully understand what that last part means, but I intend to read up on it. I suggest you do the same. In a nutshell, Earth's magnetic fields trap energetic electrons to form what are known as radiation belts. These electrons can get caught in a trajectory spiraling along magnetic field.
Lightning-induced electron precipitation. This cartoon demonstrates the process leading to lightning-induced electron precipitation. A mid-latitude lightning strike launches electromagnetic waves into the magnetospere where they disturb electrons in the radiation belts, causing them to collide with atmospheric molecules.
The other project is overseen by Umran Inan from Stanford University. He has had an antenna at Palmer since the 1970's. They are studying the electromagnetic activity in the ionosphere. The ionosphere is the part of the atmosphere that contains those charged particles called ions, of course. It is the uppermost layer that is ionized by solar radiation. They look at the magnetosphere too which is the magnetic field surrounding the earth. There are a lot of particles trapped in this field. So this VLF machine literally picks up and records EVERY lightning strike across the planet. How cool is that. What is even MORE cool is the sounds they make. What is even better than that is I have some here for you to listen too! Sweet! These sounds were first recorded in the 50s. Now you know where they got the idea for all those weird sounds and science fiction movies. click on the links below
Very Low Frequency (VLF) recording
Very Low Frequency (VLF) recording. This is called a whistler
Here is what the VLF looks like on the screen.
Here is a VLF screen. The spectrum is everywhere! This registers every lightning strike across the globe.
Here is the VLF apparatus. If you look closely you can tell that it has been around for a while. You see a lot more digital displays and fewer dials today.
See what I mean? You don't see display panels like this today. Those big dials are great. These have much more class, don't you think? Wait...what's that sound I hear? A whistler perhaps?
Magnetometer
Here is the screen for the magnetometer. I wish I could tell you what that all means but I can say that the magnetic field is active.
This is an illustration of the magnetosphere to give you an idea. I labeled the earth and the sun just in case there was any confusion.
The Magnetometer is equally cool! It is run by UCLA overseen by Eftyhia Zesta. So this is an instrument that is used to measure the strength or direction of the magnetic field. Essentially the magnetic field is composed of solar winds (yes, coming from the sun). This layer, the magnetosphere, protects us from those powerful solar winds. The atmosphere is a very busy place - winds, particles, waves are zipping all around. Dr. Zesta's project, South American Meridional B-field Array (SAMBA) is composed of a number of magnetometers stretching from Chile to Antarctica in a straight line from north to south. He and his team are studying this layer of the atmosphere to learn more about it. What Dr. Zesta is looking at is ULF or ultra low frequency waves and the remote sensing of mass density in the inner magnetosphere during geomagnetically active periods. I have neither the time nor the expertise to expound upon the magnetometer but there is a lot of info out there. There is so much interesting science down here! I wish I had the time to delve into each of the projects in greater depth. So whatever sparks your interest (no pun intended) you should delve into on your own. Who knows, you might end up down in Antarctica with some of these researchers!