Heliophysics Science Division
Sciences and Exploration Directorate - NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

July 22, 2011, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

July 22, 2011, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Observation of Schumann Resonance Signatures in the Earth's Ionosphere



Dr. Fernando Simoes (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/ORAU)

The Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite was launched in April 2008 and has been providing exceptional data to investigate electrodynamic processes of the ionospheric equatorial region. First ever detection of Schumann resonance signatures from orbit onboard C/NOFS offers new means to study atmospheric electricity, ionospheric plasma dynamics, and tropospheric-ionospheric coupling mechanisms. These results can also be used as proof of concept for monitoring planetary atmospheric electricity from orbiters. In this talk we present a few results recorded during solar minimum and discuss implications for multidisciplinary studies, from tropospheric and space weather to wave propagation in the ionosphere and atmospheric electricity remote sensing applications. In a broader context, we briefly summarize repercussions for planetary atmospheric electricity and Solar System dynamics investigations.